I Get So Emotional Baby

Wouldn't an impressive and inspiring blog about how finding creativity and your true self can lift you to the greatest heights of ecstasy even in times of war and poverty be wonderful right now? Or maybe a post showing the office supply art I made today, maybe a giant eagle made of Post-It Notes, swooping down to grasp its prey, a field mouse made out of file tabs and Styrofoam coffee cups? Or even some pictures of my weekend and how I worked towards being the best Jen I can be?

I'm falling a little short of those brilliant ideas today. Maybe it's a case of the Mondays, maybe it's that my time at work seems to be dragging out longer than this presidential race, maybe it's because I hurt my face trying to pluck my out-of-control eyebrows this morning, or maybe it's because I'm turning 29 in less than three weeks. No, I'm happy about that last one, birthdays mean presents, or at the very least chocolate and well wishes.

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Over the weekend I looked at some of the materials from the life coach training I'll be starting in January. I have to read three books and one article, answer a questionnaire, and submit a head shot (Do you think the picture of me with the hay in my hair would work for that?) by December 1st - not much time! Luckily I've already read one of the books so a quick refresher-read should be fine, my mom owns the second book so I can grab that copy sometime this or next week and read it, the article is short, and oddly (or not so oddly, sometimes the Universe seems to know what it's doing) I was already in the middle of reading the last book on the list before I ever knew I was going to need to read it for class.

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That book is "Loving What Is" by Byron Katie. The book is amazing - but it's somewhat draining to look at and analyze all of your thoughts and fears and angers. From the fear of clowns attacking you in the middle of the night to thoughts of death to anger about the toilet seat being up, you kinda feel like a horse's ass when you realize some of the things you've worried about have made your life not has happy as it could be. But the point isn't to make you feel stupid; it's to show you your thoughts trap you. And I do it all in the name of self-improvement. Maybe I'll change my goal to getting rock-hard abs. It probably wouldn't involve so much emotion. Eh, maybe not.

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The questionnaire I have to turn in is straightforward and involves one of my favorite things: Talking about me. Question: "Bullet-point your life story below. Start from your birth and end now. Please only use one page." I started this and realized I don't have much to say between the ages of six and 21. Is that weird? Another question: "What you are ridiculously good at?" You know I had to put making spinach lasagna, cat-petting, and napping in there. But then I listed some serious things - but being silly is something I really am ridiculously good at, and I feel open and honest enough to include that part of me in the answers.

So this blog isn't completely devoid of visual stimulation, check this out:

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That's me. Thinking it's a good idea to go out on a Saturday night to a club named "The Garage" and stay up waaayyyyyy past my bedtime. I went with Amy and Anthony, and our friend Dan met us there. Luckily Dan and Anthony did whatever it is guys do, so I was able to be a complete and total fool with Amy. This included me impersonating a dance I once saw a woman doing at a Lilith Fair concert when I was in college. At the time my friends and I called the dance "The Nordic Trac" because of the way the woman swung her arms and legs. After demonstrating to Amy she wanted me to actually go out onto the dance floor and do said move in front of multiple people, but I wasn't brave enough.

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I WAS brave enough, however, to try smoking part of a cigar. Or stupid enough, possibly. Don't ask me why sweet and innocent Amy had a cigar, but she did. It was disgusting (I'm not just saying that because my mom reads this blog, it was absolutely completely gross) and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, anywhere, ever. But if you want to lick the paper, I totally vote for that, the outside of this cigar tasted like a vanilla cookie. But in hindsight, I would have preferred the cookie.

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I hope to get some more creative juices flowing this week, but I'm in a state where I have to concentrate on reading, growing, answering questionnaires about myself and preparing for my birthday (which involves lots of napping). Only 21 more days of work after this and I truly hope to make the best of it.

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PS - I voted this weekend - I hope my man wins!