...the universe...

It can have its way with you. Take it or leave it - I firmly believe that fate and destiny drive life. Throw God and Karma in there and you have a whole slew of different things I often think about. Here is some gnarManda randomness for your last Friday this lovely (very snowy) month of February.

1.) No matter how much planning or preparation you put into big decisions and change, when it finally arrives you sometimes have no control over it. Something just takes over and it's as if you step on one of those movable walking paths like they have at the airport. All the planning before the decision is made hopefully ensures that you are on the right platform, but once you make the decision you are guided by the rolling floor towards your destination.

2.) Why is it that everything happens all at once? I am looking for a car. It takes a month, but I find a car. I am looking for a job out west. I get a job offer for job out west the same week. I have been trying to branch out and meet new dudes to date but thought I devoured the fruit from my massive friend tree. I meet someone that is tall, handsome and has similar interests (and from what I gather similar future goals) ALL in the same week. When it rains it pours. Ladies and gentlemen I have experienced bucket loads this month. WOW.

3.) I am packing up my belongings and trying to simplify my life. I have given away oodles of items and hope my "special" items that I passed along to friends actually serve as a reminder of me when I am gone. It feels good to purge.

4.) Craigslist is kind of a pain in the ass. Or maybe just the people on craigslist. I've posted most of my items online. I've had many flakers (people that don't show even when they confirm appointment and I boogie my ass on home during random hours to show them around) annoying bargain hunters (yes it is scratched - that is why it is only $40 and not $140) and then you get the random oops I forgot it was $30 I am so sorry - but I only have $26 on me - will you still take it? And of course the random sob story - older woman who was delighted to find a twin bed and frame for only $35 (gasp) who told me it was for her new foster boy as her older biker boyfriend was hauling it out my front door.

5.) Indulgence should be my word of February. I have been eating like a queen. I can admit it. I think there are fantastic places to eat great food here in Rochester. I am going to miss it. So, of course I have my mental list and have to eat all Rochester-like foods "one last time" without counting calories, of course. Chicken French - CHECK. Pad Thai from Thai Taste - CHECK. Braised Short Ribs from both Good Luck and Wegman's NextDoor Bar and Grill - CHECK. General Tsao's from New Number 1 (staple office Chinese) - DOUBLE CHECK. The list continues to go on and on and on and on...

6.) Piggybacking Indulgence comes stress= little exercise. I was all about cross country cardio last month, and hitting up the machines at Midtown Athletic Club to get my endurance up for my ski trip. Well, packing up an entire two bedroom apartment has taken over, and my puppy has also suffered. I guess he's not even a puppy anymore. He is 17 months. He is not happy with me right now. He is not happy to see piles of boxes and furniture disappearing daily. He is also not happy The Barker's Barber shaved him down to the lowest setting. He is a skinny, slippery, great smelling dog now. But Henry B. is not happy.

7.) I was shocked to hear my girlfriends have never heard of using a road atlas. I am old school. I have one and have always had one (at the suggestion of my always knowing mother) on hand just in case I wander off my path. This week before bed I flipped through the pages plotting out my route to California. Sure, flipping through the pages was not as convenient as listening to Jane from Australia or England tell you which way to turn, but I enjoy feeling the paper at my fingertips as well as seeing the big picture. It also scared the crap out of me to think about the journey ahead of me. But when I shared this with my girlfriends at dinner it made me think about how much has changed in the past five years. And, yes, I reassured them that I do not want a navigation system for my trip. I am planning to go to AAA for my trip tik tomorrow.

So there are seven recent things for this lady.

And here's my quote. This was given to me by a cousin-in-law a few years ago.

"Sometimes when you're ready for a change, and you kind of know it but won't admit it, when it comes, not only are you surprise, but it hurts. Yeah I know that doesn't help much, unless you remember the "ready" part. Because there is simply no change that might ever transpire in time and space that happens before you're fully able to use it for your own growth and glory. Love watching you create," The Universe.

head.spinning.off

Desperate times call for desperate measures...

A change is going to come, folks. A change is going to come!

Just a slice of my Saturday morning.

When it rains, it pours and when things are supposed to happen, they just do.

Wow.

My.head.is.spinning...

music.that.moves.me

My 2010-2011 winter playlist:

Billy Brag & Wilco - California Stars
Beirut - Nantes
Chairlift - Bruises
Muse - Starlight
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Mike Posner - Please Don't Go
Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love & Dog Days Are Over
The XX - Islands
Iron & Wine - Me and Lazarus
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Greg Laswell - Comes & Goes
Vampire Weekend - Run
Ingrid Michaelson - Parachute
Keane - Clear Skies
Talking Heads - This Must be the Place
Ok Go - End Love
Interpol - Evil
Beach House - Zebra
Miike Snow - Black & Blue
Mumford & Sons - Thistles & Weeds

ruf - def - dunc

I went to the doctor for my annual physical this week (sidebar - it had been four years since my last physical with my doctor) but it seems as if all is healthy for this gal. I saw a magazine on the rack with a quote I wanted to share.

"I never think of the future. It comes soon enough." - Albert Einstein

You never know what is around the next turn. I am incredibly grateful for my health. I have some friends who are going through difficult times with sick parents and caring for family members that need a little extra TLC. I feel blessed and lucky... hugs all around to those who are not so lucky right now.

Random encounters are usually one of my favorite things.

I network a lot for my job, so I avoid the scene with my friends or during my "off time" but last week I caved. I decided to give it the good old college try and made plans to attend a networking event at our local art museum. My draw - the art museum - a secret gem I have yet to visit in my six years here.

What happened? Well, a last minute pre-game is what happened...cocktails and giddy girlfriends...resulted in a later-than-planned departure and extremely tardy arrival to said networking event. No artwork viewing...just a few more random run-ins with faces from the past. Topped off with an impromptu "genius" dinner party suggestion at a great restaurant around the corner.

Hodgepodge of guests and table for six first, which grew into nine. (The most random combination of people.) Those gathered around the table could have never planned the encounter. (Let me elaborate that our original group probably would have not attempted to pull together this dinner table had we been in a different state of mind - but again, randomness - and voila it happens.) I have chosen not to dissect the intricate details of that evening but rather coined it "weirdest dinner dynamic EVER." Sorry to disappoint you, but also glad to adhere to the wishes of those involved. You just had to be there...

So I write to say I guess my randomness sometimes backfires. And the overlap and tunnel sharing in the ROC can be too close for comfort in my eyes.

The blog title is catchy though. It was the best personal quote of the evening relating to my personal web of conversations - Ruf (an old flame) Def (flashback to Def Leppard/Bryan Adams concert in 05) and Dunc (memories of my evening with Duncan Sheik). Somebody helped me connect those dots which made for a fit of laughs and thoughts on my drive into work the next morning.

I have a small set back with losing my free wireless connection at home, so I my updates are not as frequent as I hoped. I'm also working on my February 2011 playlist to share with you. I have been stalking some really great music blogs and have some great stuff to share.

Let's keep today positive and remind ourselves to never think of the future because it comes soon enough. :)