Noms and Dinosaurs

I'm still thinking of Life Beyond the Cube and what that means. I dream of working at my leisure, not being in a cube, and enjoying some fresh air. No schedule. Just pure freedom. I'm so driven to that desire that I started grad school for a counseling program. If I'm a counselor, I'll be able to make my own schedule, help people, and find fulfillment...right?  To be honest, I'm having doubts. I just read this amazing article, " 5 Ways to Find Fulfillment Outside of Work " from The Daily Positive and what I'm starting to realize is that, even if I go into counseling and have a successful practice, I will not have the kind of leisure that I'm looking for!  Shit, I'll need it more than I do now! So I'm pondering about my future. Counseling is an honorable position and I could help so many people. Right now, I'm going to be starting a new role as a Program Associate for Nursing students, where I kinda sorta get to work with people,...

Happy New Year! It's been a turbulent and lovely 2018.  We had our big wedding, we received tough news about both of our sets of grandparents, and things have been topsy-turvy. I'm in a counseling degree program right now and I'm not sure if that's what I want to do for the rest of my life.  I love helping people, but would I be doing it at my own expense?  I'm not sure. For now, I'm not sure what the future brings, but I want to be secure and happy.  Sure, I have a desk job and that's all fine and dandy, but just  having a desk job is depressing.  It's time to put some effort into creating life beyond the cube. I like all sorts of shit--dinosaurs, cooking, foraging, different languages, planning parties, drawing, etc.   Blogging will be new too.  I don't want to overcomplicate writing, so I'm just slapping it out there, few revisions.  I'm sure writing will improve as time goes on. This will be cool :) -a

I'm going to be a blueberry pop tart for Halloween, which makes my Pinterest Brain leap for joy! Not only is the blueberry pop tart far superior to all other tarts, but this will be something I invest some legit time in.  I tend to skimp on Halloween.  It's not that I don't like dressing up and having fun, but I'm lazy when it comes to putting a costume together.  I typically just take it out of the package. I dug around on the ol' Amazon and found the individual pieces for the costume: Blue cable knit hat Royal blue shirt Royal blue cropped trouser pants Children's sized denim flats I'm going to have to hit Michael's for some cardboard and paint on some icing and sprinkle goodness.  I'm beyond pumped! I'll post pics of the final blueberry goodness once its all good to go. -a

"Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all." --Bill Clinton God damn, this is a tough post to write. You know, mental illness has been the focal point of attention and there's been a call to end the judgment or shame in someone caring for their mental well-being and getting treatment.  I am so thankful for all of the effort that's been put into making mental health a priority, but it can be a true shock to not only meet, but report to someone who has zero sense of human empathy.  Here's a bit of info that most don't know about me: I see a psychiatrist once a week.  I've been seeing her for over two years after the death of my brother.  She has created a safe haven for me to not only cope with the loss, but the alcoholism that developed in the aftermath. I started seeing her in my previous position at a university and received comforting support to seek medical care.  They were with me the day my brother was diagno...

“Like a lotus flower, we too have the ability to rise from the mud…bloom out of the darkness and radiate into the world”. –unknown It’s so easy to get stuck in the mud when it comes to day-to-day happenings.   Interpersonal conflict, the never-ending adulting headaches of work, bills, deadlines—all that fun stuff.   I was reflecting on this phenomenon this morning and thought about it.   During the toughest jobs, the most difficult situations, and overall general times of crappiness, I don’t remember the day-to-day minutia.   To be honest, I reflect through a different lens.   I remember the fun times, the acts of kindness, the adventures and friendships I had (or still have), and the opportunities and help I had along the way. Just that one thought made me reflect on how things are for me right now.   I am in the midst of a conflict at work that has escalated.   That’s caused stress, tension, irritability, and physical tightness in my nec...

Right now, I am in the midst of a tense situation at work.  The intensity and uncertainty of conflict at work is like none other.  Work, as a friend of mine called it, is essentially a collective dormitory where folks from all walks of life come together and work towards a common goal.  I couldn’t agree more.  Work becomes an organic living infrastructure and like a dormitory, it can sometimes lead to conflict.  This is where I’m at this week.   This conflict has been nearly a year’s worth of escalated incidences, trampled boundaries, and lack of human empathy from what few have called my workplace bully, or WPB.   Now, I could tell you all about what Google has to say about bullying, but I want to share my experience authentically.  When I was hired last year,  good impressions were made all around and my WPB and I started our work place acquaintanceship with no problems at all.  As time flowed, our differences started t...

Could We Skip This Song?   A Love Story This weekend, my fiancé Jon and I went to Bend, OR for a weekend getaway.   The weather was perfect for window-shopping in the downtown area.   A lovely dress caught my eye in one particular boutique, so we both went inside to browse.   To my delight, they had my size and with the thumbs up from both Jon and the lovely store owner, I went into the dressing room to try it on. That’s when the song came on: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole. This song, though beautiful, is a knife to the heart.   This song was played at the memorial service of my youngest brother, Alex.   You know, it’s so easy to get lost in your own mind when you’re triggered by an event in your past.   I went from being present in a boutique to standing in a cold church recreation room where the family gathered after Alex’s service.   I saw the white linoleum on the floors, the red eyes of the bereaved...

In 2013, I lost my youngest brother to a wildly aggressive form of lung cancer.  Words and stories about this tragedy can't properly be expressed in one post, but the grief and depression all of his loved one experienced were deep and powerful enough to fill a chasm with tears. In his memory, my family and I run annual blood drives to keep his legacy alive.  During his treatment, he used 7 units of blood, which made a world of difference in how he felt.  He was so fond of how he felt, he called getting his transfusions getting "true blood". This past weekend was the fourth annual blood drive in his honor.  It's so amazing to work with a blood donation center, get the word out, market it, and see how many friends, family, and community members come to donate.  The opposite side of that coin is that his story is told.  Our pain is visible to all.  To share the impact of how blood donations make a difference to patients, it's agonizing to share an in...

My name is Aimee and I am an ice addict. I'm not even kidding either.  We're talking high-functioning addict.  I look seemingly normal on the outside, but inside I have an unexplained urge to destroy a cup of ice.  The softer the ice, the better. My desire to crunch got to the point where my fiancé suggested getting a shaved ice machine.  He was concerned that all the biting and crunching would not only put my teeth at risk of damage, but my jaw as well.  So to the store we went.  And invested $20 on a piece of shit. Don't waste your money. I was so elated to find the above piece of shit.  PUMPED.  I had a little ice machine that would save me from potential dental harm!  Got it home and it broke within three days.  I was so disheartened.  This was supposed to be a magical device of shaved ice glory. My fiancé, a worshipper and devotee of Amazon, did some research and behold--I present one of my most prized possessi...

Confession: I was a HUGE fan of Lisa Frank when I was a kiddo and to be entirely truthful, I still am today. I'm not talking about the new shit they have out at Target and Wal-Mart now.  It is just that--shit.  I am struggling to describe it.  The styles they have now scream, "the search for more money" rather than the delightful styles they once had in the past. Are you fucking kidding me?  This makes me cringe. I'm going to get a seizure from all this shit. I'm not a fan of the little girl alien-eye bullshit.  Get it together, Lisa Frank.  This shit sucks. The old-school Lisa Frank designs, specifically the sticker line, was bomb back in the day.  I'm thinking more along the line of the 90's.  The fun, creative, silly stuff.  I loved it when I was a kid and I still love it now, 20+ years later. Cleo-catra.  Classic.  Her pendant is the shit. All of the key players.  Ballerina bunn...

Dinosaur Quick Study: The Diplodocus I was always a fan of the diplodocus growing up.  This large beast, a cousin to the apatasaurus and brontosaurus, is the longest dinosaur ever discovered to date. This beautiful herbivore was first discovered in Wyoming in the late 1890's, its skeleton nearly full intact.  The diplodocus measures up to 90' long head to tail, which is the length of a basketball court and weighed 15-20 tons. Interesting facts: Andrew Carnegie procured the first discovered diplodocus skeleton.  He was so delighted that he had molds created from the original skeleton to share with museums around the world. Diplodocus (dih-PLOD-uh-kus) is Greek for Double Beam, referring to the double-beamed structure of spines on the tail vertebrae. Diplodocus is a sauropod, meaning a long necked dinosaur. The teeth were pencil-like and used to strip leaves.  The teeth were on the front of the jaw only.  Scientists have recently discovered that th...

One of my favorite family recipes is Grandma's Magic Shit Muffins.  We tend to have digestion issues in the fam, whether it's IBS, Celiac, or good ol' fashioned constipation.  Grandma's Magic Shit Muffins are just that: magic. Her muffins are not only tasty, but they get things moving if you're blocked up.  I never recommend eating more than two a day, unless you want to sit on the toilet for hours. This recipe yields quite a few muffins, so feel free to halve the recipe.  The batter stays good in the fridge in an airtight container for up to six weeks. Grandma's Magic Shit Muffins 1 15-oz box of Raisin Bran 5 cups of flour 2 cups of sugar 5 tsp. baking soda 1 TB cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 2 tsp. salt 1 cup of oil (or substitute for something lighter--check Google) 4 eggs 1 qt. buttermilk Fruit and/or nuts, chopped into bite-size pieces.  Try apples, pecans, dried berries, walnuts, etc. Pre-heat oven to 350.  Mix all dry ingredients...

As I start this little endeavor, I can feel my inner bully (I'll call her Trunchbull) beginning to tell me that this blog is going to suck.  It's going to sound like a moody 12 year old sharing insights of the past.  People will hate it.  Folks who stumble upon it will be dicks and leave shitty messages.  I'll be putting my thoughts and words out to the world and I'll be met with shitty fucking feedback. GOD, that's the worst.  That's the Trunchbull that's kept me from being a blogger.  Or sharing.  Or selling art. Trunchbull, you're a dick. I say that as a safeguard for me, really.  The sad thing about this whole thing is that 1.) it's just a blog, 2.) this is for fun, and 3.) listening to Trunchbull will get me absolutely nowhere in life except for hiding in the corner and trying not to be heard. So yeah.  Trunchbull sucks, but I'm learning to get in a few shots myself.  This blog really is for fun and yeah, there may be some...

This is a string of thoughts, fun facts, and tidbits of fun things I learn on a continuous basis.  Essentially, I'm creating the blog I'd want to read.  I explore mindfulness, deep reflections on life, as well as learning about a wide variety of shit, like different languages, dinosaur facts, or really good recipes I find and want to remember. General disclaimer: I will be using a lot of google images to illustrate points, but never for the intention of selling anything, etc, etc.  Just throwing that out there.