As I sit watching UFC fights with David this evening...
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
I hope all of your dreams come true, Babe.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Throw Back Music Day
I love looking up songs that remind me of my childhood... here we gooooo:
OMC - How Bizarre
(Emily and Sarah)
Natalie Merchant - Kind and Generous
(Rath parties)
Del Amitir - Roll To Me
Billy Joel - Piano Man
OMC - How Bizarre
(Emily and Sarah)
Natalie Merchant - Kind and Generous
(Rath parties)
Del Amitir - Roll To Me
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Lazy Saturday... for realz?
I NEVER get one of these days. Dave is at the gym all afternoon and I have nothing to do or worry about until work tonight at 5pm.
Is it bad that I honestly don't know what to do with myself? Is it okay that I'm dreading staying at home in bed for 4 hours and do nothing? What have I become? Is this adulthood?
As I lay here and think about my options I get overwhelmed. There are many things I should do, but only one thing I want to do. Write... and eventually sleep.
Saturday's are the best because there is dreading the tomorrow because we have to work, and it's better than Friday because we don't have to work all day. Although, these days, Saturday's are just another day because work never stops for this girl.
Thinking ahead and thinking back, Saturdays have always been that day of the week where you can sit back and reflect on the week that has just passed and the one that is about to come. All week you look ahead to Saturday, make plans, and plan on doing things that you should have done all week. But when Saturdays come, lazy is the only word that makes any sense.
Here's to my lazy Saturday... one in 52 weeks.
Is it bad that I honestly don't know what to do with myself? Is it okay that I'm dreading staying at home in bed for 4 hours and do nothing? What have I become? Is this adulthood?
As I lay here and think about my options I get overwhelmed. There are many things I should do, but only one thing I want to do. Write... and eventually sleep.
Saturday's are the best because there is dreading the tomorrow because we have to work, and it's better than Friday because we don't have to work all day. Although, these days, Saturday's are just another day because work never stops for this girl.
Thinking ahead and thinking back, Saturdays have always been that day of the week where you can sit back and reflect on the week that has just passed and the one that is about to come. All week you look ahead to Saturday, make plans, and plan on doing things that you should have done all week. But when Saturdays come, lazy is the only word that makes any sense.
Here's to my lazy Saturday... one in 52 weeks.
Friday, March 25, 2011
"You couldn't have strength without weakness, you couldn't have light without dark, you couldn't have love without loss"
— Jodi Picoult (The Tenth Circle)
— Jodi Picoult (The Tenth Circle)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Every time I hear this song, I think of us...
Elevator buttons in morning air
Strangers silence makes me want to take the stairs.
If you were here we'd laugh about their vacant stares
but right now my time is theirs.
Seems like theirs always someone who disapproves.
They'll judge it like they know about me and you.
And the verdict comes from those with nothing else to do,
the jury's out, my choice is you.
So don't you worry your pretty little mind
people throw rocks at things that shine
and life makes love look hard.
The stakes are high, the water's rough
but this love is ours.
You never know what people have up their sleeves.
Ghosts from your past gonna jump out at me,
lurking in the shadows with their lipgloss smiles,
but I don't care, cause right now you're mine.
Strangers silence makes me want to take the stairs.
If you were here we'd laugh about their vacant stares
but right now my time is theirs.
Seems like theirs always someone who disapproves.
They'll judge it like they know about me and you.
And the verdict comes from those with nothing else to do,
the jury's out, my choice is you.
So don't you worry your pretty little mind
people throw rocks at things that shine
and life makes love look hard.
The stakes are high, the water's rough
but this love is ours.
You never know what people have up their sleeves.
Ghosts from your past gonna jump out at me,
lurking in the shadows with their lipgloss smiles,
but I don't care, cause right now you're mine.
So don't you worry your pretty little mind
people throw rocks at things that shine
and life makes love look hard.
The stakes are high, the water's rough
but this love is ours.
And it's not theirs to speculate if it's wrong
and your hands are tough but they are where mine belong.
I'll fight their doubt and give you faith with this song for you:
Cause I love the gap between your teeth
and I love the riddles that you speak
and any snide remarks from my father about your tattoos will be ignored
cause my heart is yours.
So don't you worry your pretty little mind
people throw rocks at things that shine
and life makes love look hard.
And don't you worry your pretty little mind
people throw rocks at things that shine,
but they can't take what ours
they can't take what's ours...
The stakes are high, the water's rough
but this love is ours.
Ours by Taylor Swift
This time of year comes early in Virginia!!
Spring has sprung! Thank you Virginia!
I am sorry for those of you still in New York where the weather will continue to be dismal until... well, it's pretty much always dismal.
Spring time is the best. Not only is it flip-flop weather, but I can enjoy a nice breeze from outside without getting frostbite. The only thing I hate about this time of year, besides the massive amounts of allergies that swells up my tongue, is that I cannot really enjoy it because of work.
I work from home, so I rarely wear anything besides pajamas. I NEVER wear makeup, throw my hair up wet and if I wear a bra, it's a special day.
But this weather, this warmth and sunshine, makes me want to dress up, go somewhere and enjoy every last ray of sunshine until it's bedtime (and bedtime in my adult years seems to get earlier and earlier these days).
Happy spring everyone! Enjoy the pollen and sneezes, and let your dogs frolic outside. More importantly remember summer will be here soon enough (and summer brings changes that I cannot wait for!!).
Monday, March 21, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
How many dreams can I really dream?
A typical week in the head of Erica Rath:
Monday: go to Business school, get an MBA... there are so many opportunities
Tuesday: get a masters in Journalism, thats what you've always wanted
Wednesday: journalism is too specific, what happens if you end up disliking it, what else can you do?
Thursday: move to Nashville! CMT is awaiting
Friday: I really don't care
Saturday: do it all! do it all!
Sunday: THERE ARE TOO MANY THINGS I WANT TO DO!
Any one else feel like there are TOO many opportunities out there? Are you scared to death you are going to choose the wrong one? Why do I drive myself crazy trying to figure out what I want to do with my life?
I'll tell you what I want to do with my LIFE: see the world, fall in love, have a family, be well-read, stay close with my sisters and parents, and help some people along the way.
But what about that thing that allows you to travel, and support your family. That thing that I went to college for... a career. Right now I have a job, one that I am learning soooo much from. But I want a career. I want to feel passion for what I do on a daily basis.
I look around at the people who are closest to me. My two best friends are doing what they went to school for: one is a nurse, one is a teacher. I went to school for communication and business... those aren't careers! Those are words, categories, of millions of opportunities that I can take on. If only I could narrow those millions of options down to one... or even two.
My mom went back to school after having 3 children. She finally discovered, after getting married and having a family, that she wanted to be a teacher. (If I had known my mom before she knew what she wanted to do, I would tell her to be a teacher. We need more teachers like her.) She was in her late thirties before she went back to school. She now has her masters and is a one-on-one aid with an autistic girl. She reminds me daily that I am still young, that I have my whole life to discover what I am meant to do.
Still... I wish, I really really REALLY wish, I could put a grasp around what I want to do with my life.
"You have to just let it come to you. You aren't going to wake up one day and know what you want to do." - A very wise boyfriend of mine (see Babe, I do listen to what you say!)
For know, I will continue waking up with another idea in my head, research it a little and then move on to another. Why not drive myself crazy for a few more years, I will eventually fall into a niche. Right?
Monday: go to Business school, get an MBA... there are so many opportunities
Tuesday: get a masters in Journalism, thats what you've always wanted
Wednesday: journalism is too specific, what happens if you end up disliking it, what else can you do?
Thursday: move to Nashville! CMT is awaiting
Friday: I really don't care
Saturday: do it all! do it all!
Sunday: THERE ARE TOO MANY THINGS I WANT TO DO!
Any one else feel like there are TOO many opportunities out there? Are you scared to death you are going to choose the wrong one? Why do I drive myself crazy trying to figure out what I want to do with my life?
I'll tell you what I want to do with my LIFE: see the world, fall in love, have a family, be well-read, stay close with my sisters and parents, and help some people along the way.
But what about that thing that allows you to travel, and support your family. That thing that I went to college for... a career. Right now I have a job, one that I am learning soooo much from. But I want a career. I want to feel passion for what I do on a daily basis.
I look around at the people who are closest to me. My two best friends are doing what they went to school for: one is a nurse, one is a teacher. I went to school for communication and business... those aren't careers! Those are words, categories, of millions of opportunities that I can take on. If only I could narrow those millions of options down to one... or even two.
My mom went back to school after having 3 children. She finally discovered, after getting married and having a family, that she wanted to be a teacher. (If I had known my mom before she knew what she wanted to do, I would tell her to be a teacher. We need more teachers like her.) She was in her late thirties before she went back to school. She now has her masters and is a one-on-one aid with an autistic girl. She reminds me daily that I am still young, that I have my whole life to discover what I am meant to do.
Still... I wish, I really really REALLY wish, I could put a grasp around what I want to do with my life.
"You have to just let it come to you. You aren't going to wake up one day and know what you want to do." - A very wise boyfriend of mine (see Babe, I do listen to what you say!)
For know, I will continue waking up with another idea in my head, research it a little and then move on to another. Why not drive myself crazy for a few more years, I will eventually fall into a niche. Right?
My newest music obsession
When I hear a new song, I listen to it until I can't anymore. Here is my recent obsession. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Eo1PtWKio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Eo1PtWKio
Are we for real with these student loan payments?
Yay! I went to college and after 4 years of studying, partying, new friendships, partying, switching majors, homesickness, partying, and endless schoolwork, I have a diploma and degree! Besides the fact that the State of New York sent my diploma to my parents' house 8 months after I walked across the stage, I can smile a little bit knowing that I have a Bachelor's degree! Woohoo!
I remember the day I sat and listened intently to the college president, provost and even senator of New York State stating that I have sooo much to be proud of! I stood up, dressed in a terribly fitting black robe (that still showed the lines where it was folded so nicely in a plastic bag, because why would I take it out of there any earlier than the day I had to wear it) and motorboard hat with my sorority letters neatly taped on top. I smiled when the camera was pointed my way. And as I walked up the stairs and across the stage to shake the presidents hand, I started to tear up thinking, "wow! I'm graduating from COLLEGE!".
Now, those tears that I saw starting welling up on graduation day, fall down my face for a completely different reason. I was one of the smart ones in this economy and decided not to go to graduate school right away. By smart I mean completely idiotic and dumb. I had a job lined up, and for a while I was swimming in money.
Then December hit. December marks 6 months after Graduation. My grace period was over. I now had to start paying back for my 4 years of studying, partying, friendships, switching majors, partying and and endless schoolwork.
WHY????? do these payments cost so much? Why after 3, maybe 4, applications for deferment am I still being told I pay too much? Why are loan companies calling me 7 times a day when my payment is on time? Why am I taking about half my monthly paycheck to pay back these stupid things? Where has all my money gone? Six months is not a long enough grace period. I think the most I have ever seen in my bank account is close to three thousand dollars. Nowadays, after I pay these horrible things off every month, I can barely afford rent and groceries.
College grad! I have a degree! I have a job (2 jobs actually!) and I have no money to show for it. 23 years old, living on my own and calling my mom and dad weekly crying because I hate student loans. I imagined my first year in the "real world" with a little more freedom than this...
I remember the day I sat and listened intently to the college president, provost and even senator of New York State stating that I have sooo much to be proud of! I stood up, dressed in a terribly fitting black robe (that still showed the lines where it was folded so nicely in a plastic bag, because why would I take it out of there any earlier than the day I had to wear it) and motorboard hat with my sorority letters neatly taped on top. I smiled when the camera was pointed my way. And as I walked up the stairs and across the stage to shake the presidents hand, I started to tear up thinking, "wow! I'm graduating from COLLEGE!".
Now, those tears that I saw starting welling up on graduation day, fall down my face for a completely different reason. I was one of the smart ones in this economy and decided not to go to graduate school right away. By smart I mean completely idiotic and dumb. I had a job lined up, and for a while I was swimming in money.
Then December hit. December marks 6 months after Graduation. My grace period was over. I now had to start paying back for my 4 years of studying, partying, friendships, switching majors, partying and and endless schoolwork.
WHY????? do these payments cost so much? Why after 3, maybe 4, applications for deferment am I still being told I pay too much? Why are loan companies calling me 7 times a day when my payment is on time? Why am I taking about half my monthly paycheck to pay back these stupid things? Where has all my money gone? Six months is not a long enough grace period. I think the most I have ever seen in my bank account is close to three thousand dollars. Nowadays, after I pay these horrible things off every month, I can barely afford rent and groceries.
My family and I on graduation day (sans my older sister Emily, who currently lives in Germany).
Friday, March 18, 2011
A puppy named Juneau
After I got settled in my studio apartment, I thought "what's next?". Job, check, apartment, check, another job, check. Ok, I'm officially an adult. I own a crock pot for goodness sake. I have to remember to stop at the grocery store after my shift at the restaurant to grab some toilet paper or I won't be happy when I wake up in the morning and make my scheduled stop in the bathroom. Responsibility... ahh joy.
I met my boyfriend Dave at the restaurant where he worked in between jobs. (Although he won't be pleased that the puppy gets an entry before I rave about him, I will write more about him when I have hours to do so (: . ) Since the day I met him, I annoyingly complained about how my apartment was lonely and I wanted a puppy. As days and weeks went on I obsessively checked the internet for any news of puppies in our area.
It got to be Christmas time and Dave ended up telling everyone at work he was getting me a puppy for a gift! After I found out, I was soooooo excited. He ended up telling me so I could help pick out the perfect one. A few weeks after Christmas we went to the ASPCA in Charlottesville and fell in love with a puppy we named Juneau.
We took him into the adoption room and an hour and a half and a hundred fifty bucks later, we carried the little guy out of there. (Funny story: the day we adopted Juneau, we had nothing ready. No crate, no leash, nothing. What's more, the both of us had to work at the restaurant that night. We ended up calling his mom and sister on the way to their house begging for them to watch the little guy. Thankfully they were more than happy to!)
Juneau has been a huge pain in the ass and I would have it no other way. I cannot believe how intelligent he is. He was, for the most part, potty trained in a week. Of course he has his spiteful accidents when we leave him alone for more than an hour. At 3 months he can sit and shake on command. He can play fetch and bring the ball back to us.
I took the nugget to the vet for a checkup. The vet, after what seemed like hours, told me that dogs are pack animals and they need to know who the pack leader is. I took this to heart and came home to tell Dave the news. Of course, Dave took this too far. He now speaks of himself as the "pack leader". He disciplines Juneau, whereas I give in to his cute little puppy-ness.
I still can't believe I own a puppy, who will turn into a dog. I look forward to years upon years of memories with him. He is already so loyal. I love him to pieces, and although Dave gets fed up with him very easily, I know he loves him, too. It's like my own little family.
I met my boyfriend Dave at the restaurant where he worked in between jobs. (Although he won't be pleased that the puppy gets an entry before I rave about him, I will write more about him when I have hours to do so (: . ) Since the day I met him, I annoyingly complained about how my apartment was lonely and I wanted a puppy. As days and weeks went on I obsessively checked the internet for any news of puppies in our area.
It got to be Christmas time and Dave ended up telling everyone at work he was getting me a puppy for a gift! After I found out, I was soooooo excited. He ended up telling me so I could help pick out the perfect one. A few weeks after Christmas we went to the ASPCA in Charlottesville and fell in love with a puppy we named Juneau.
We took him into the adoption room and an hour and a half and a hundred fifty bucks later, we carried the little guy out of there. (Funny story: the day we adopted Juneau, we had nothing ready. No crate, no leash, nothing. What's more, the both of us had to work at the restaurant that night. We ended up calling his mom and sister on the way to their house begging for them to watch the little guy. Thankfully they were more than happy to!)
Juneau has been a huge pain in the ass and I would have it no other way. I cannot believe how intelligent he is. He was, for the most part, potty trained in a week. Of course he has his spiteful accidents when we leave him alone for more than an hour. At 3 months he can sit and shake on command. He can play fetch and bring the ball back to us.
I took the nugget to the vet for a checkup. The vet, after what seemed like hours, told me that dogs are pack animals and they need to know who the pack leader is. I took this to heart and came home to tell Dave the news. Of course, Dave took this too far. He now speaks of himself as the "pack leader". He disciplines Juneau, whereas I give in to his cute little puppy-ness.
I still can't believe I own a puppy, who will turn into a dog. I look forward to years upon years of memories with him. He is already so loyal. I love him to pieces, and although Dave gets fed up with him very easily, I know he loves him, too. It's like my own little family.
Juneau the weekend we brought him home. He is a lab/shepherd mix.
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