(Image found here)

You know what they say when things get weird? Mercury is in retrograde! I think it might be living in California, and being surrounded by wellness junkies, that contributes to the fact that I hear that all the time. It also helps that Mercury seems to be in retrograde ALL THE TIME.  So between this blood moon (did you see it?!), and Mercury going backwards, let’s just say I have had a week of lessons so far.

It all started out on Monday. I was faced with situation after situation where I needed to speak up and I dropped the ball.  It was one thing after another and I just ended up doing things that I didn’t have time for or that made me feel completely uncomfortable.  Again, this happened to me last night.  I got a massage that was borderline unbearable.  This woman walked on my back for what felt like an eternity and I didn’t say a word, even though I was struggling not to throw up or pass out.  What gives?!  Am I that big of a baby? This week has proven to me that yeah, maybe I am.

I am not going to act like here I am, four days later, and just speaking my mind everywhere I turn.  That is just not the case.  Learning to speak up for yourself is really hard.  At least for me.  I think that it is a mixture of being a woman, being raised with midwestern politeness, and also being from a family where the woman do it all and don’t say a word about it.  If you blend that up in a big ol’ pot, you get me.

So I guess I am going to try and say what I am feeing to people when I am actually in the situation.  Because mostly, I call my sister, or someone else, right after and tell her how uncomfortable or weird a situation was instead of excusing myself in the moment.

Cheers to Mercury, the Midwest and genetics!

[posted by Farrell]

photo: Gene Tierney and her sister, Patricia, 1940’s

Wearing Suz’s jewelry to remind me of her style and her fondness for sweet things.

Reading Everything is Illuminated by Johathan Safran Foer

Checking the waves at Santa Monica beach everyday.

Dusting off my leather clogs for some fall wardrobe wear.

Assigning action days to my to-do list in hopes of increasing productivity.

Repotting a few plants in my my mini-tea-cups-made-planters.

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We are starting a new weekly round-up of articles, videos, websites and other know-how that has recently captured our attention.  We hope you find something you like and pass it on!

1) Lena Dunham gives great advice (via Cup of Jo)  We both watched ALL 12 of these videos and could have watched more.

2) Matthew O’Reilly “Am I dying? The honest answer. (via TED)  Short, sweet and to the point. We all want to be remembered, forgiven and have a life of meaning.

3) Shots of Awe – “The Urge to Merge: Why We Crave Intimacy”   Is there anything more to say? Our urge to become one. Do you feel it too?

4) Lingered Upon   My friend at work sent me this blog and I just love the photography. I love anything that reminds me to take more photographs.

5) 11 Steps to Prepare Yourself for Really Awesome Love (via Huffington Post) ‘Cause who doesn’t want that?!

6) Fall Plant Care (via The Sill) Dust the leaves and other solid tips to sustain your green friends through the changing season.

7) Bourdain Goes Bronx (via WNYC) “Parts Unknown” goes local and Bourdain has mixed feelings about it.

I was out to brunch this past weekend and my friend randomly asked me if I was happy. I thought about it before I answered and I told him that I feel full of joy. But then I started to explain that I also feel deep sorrow from time to time too. I started to think of this poem by Khalil Gibran that my cousin recently sent me. I do not think there is a better description than this of the actual depths of sorrow and joy.

On Joy and Sorrow

from The Prophet by Khalil Gibran

Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.
And he answered:
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.”
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the reassure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

[posted by Farrell]

Blogging about my visit to the NY Art Book Fair for Valley Cruise Press

Anticipating some time to start painting again during my upcoming days off from work

Listening to Pablo Casals playing the Bach cello suites in a French monastery.  I’m told this guy used to go rock climbing before playing his concerts!

Reading Siddhartha.  I have read the first 3 pages over and over and still do not feel compelled to go any further. Any motivation to keep me going is welcomed.

Seeing the moon almost every day since Suz died. Our love for the moon is something we shared and talked about constantly. Last night was a crescent moon that was too perfect. It brought me to tears.

Feeling so much peace. Much more than usual.

[image via Pinterest}