10 Simple Pleasures That Make My Life Awesome

I’m sitting here munching on some applesauce and thinking about my day. Although I’m currently fighting a cold (again) and my throat feels like I’ve been gargling with battery acid, aside from that I’ve really got a lot to be thankful for. I decided to write this blog because I’ve been having some pretty fabulous experiences lately. It’s easy to get in a funk sometimes and easy to forget about all the cool shit that makes this life awesome. So, I came up with ten reasons why I’m thankful to be living the life I do. Some things are standard… others aren’t. Even the simplest pleasures can make every day rad… it’s just about taking a moment to remember what those pleasures are.

1. My morning coffee. There is nothing like kickin’ it on my bed enjoying some Mystic Monk java in the morning before I have to go to work. It tastes like heaven… especially the Amaretto with a bit of honey added in. I’m not a morning person at all and whenever 5:30am comes around, I generally want to punch it in the face. My coffee curbs my morning attitude problem.

2. Cheesy songs from my childhood. I am not ashamed to admit that I’m currently bumpin’ the Backstreet Boys and singing (as much as my sick ass can) along while bouncing around on my bed. I haven’t listened to these guys since I was probably about 13. I had a good childhood and songs like these remind me of those times. Don’t put it past me to put Hanson’s “MMMBOP!” on the speakers here in a second.

3. My friends. My core group of friends are more like family. There are those people who, no matter where we live, when we see each other it’s like we were never apart even if it’s been years. Since I’ve moved to D-town, I can’t tell you how many times a friend has dropped by to take care of me when I was sick (whether from a cold or way too much tequila). The homies in CA did that too, but it’s a long drive for them nowadays.

4. Green olives. I’ve developed an affinity for these little things. They’re delicious. Thanks for that, Chanelle.

5. Writing. I get to do it every day now. Whether it’s journaling or writing content for my job, I do something I love every day. I’ve dropped out of college four times and vocational school twice because I was studying things that, in retrospect, never fueled my fire as much as writing does. Writing comes naturally and I truly believe that I was meant to do this.

The big bro.

6. My family. What a crazy bunch of people. My big brother and I can never take a nice picture together. My mom, dad, and stepmom love me no matter what kind of shenanigans I get myself into. The little bro is smart as hell and more like me than either one of us probably care to admit… and my sister, we are so opposite of each other that it’s kind of endearing. We’ve all got our quirks and for whatever reason, they work together. It’s pretty awesome to be part of this family.

7. The smell of wet cement. Or rain in general, really. It smells fresh and it puts me in a good mood. Even if I’m already in a good mood, it puts me in a better one.

8. My little apartment. It’s my home. It’s my sanctuary… I love being here. It may not be much, but it’s one of my favorite places to be.

9. My health. Yeah, I’m sick right now… but on most days I’m not. I’m healthy enough to ride my skateboard nearly every day. I can go out and enjoy good food and spend time with family and friends without worrying about being too sick to leave the house or injured in a way that would prevent me from doing those things. There are a lot of people who aren’t able to experience that…

10. Hats. I love my hats. Fedoras. Beanies. Paperboy hats. They look good on me. They compliment my outfits… and they just freakin’ make me happy.

While I could go on and on about all the things that make my life awesome, I’d like to hear about what makes yours awesome. Make your own list. Maybe share them with me in the comments section. I’d love to know about the simple things that make you smile.

Love is Genderless

Love knows no bounds. Love knows no gender. Love knows only love.

It’s Sunday afternoon and I’ve spent the day watching documentaries on Netflix… I have a soft spot for documentaries. There was one in particular that I wanted to see called “Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement”. The film focused on a lesbian couple that met in the 1960′s and followed their journey up until Thea’s death in 2009. At only a little over an hour long, this film brought me to tears. It was absolutely beautiful to see this couple still in love and happy together despite ever evolving social standards and opinions, a devastating illness, and the every day problems that come with being in a relationship. It culminated when the two women married in 2007. It was inspiring to say the least.

The second film I watched was called “Chris & Don: A Love Story” which was also about a gay couple living in Southern California. Having met in the 1950′s, their relationship was somewhat different due to a 30-year age difference between them, but this didn’t change the beauty of their love. The story was told by Don who was just 16 when he met his lover, Chris, during a time when homosexuality was still heavily frowned upon even in a fairly liberal state like California.

I highly recommend both films because I feel that they are very representative of what love is in its true form. Both couples stayed together “til death do us part” and showed that it doesn’t matter whether one is gay, straight, transgender, or otherwise… love will always find a way.

Hearing stories of anyone staying (happily) together for decades makes me smile. A lot of people strive to find love that will last a lifetime and anytime I see an elderly couple holding hands because they’re truly still in love with each other, it reminds me that unconditional love does still exist. It reminds me that even through sometimes fierce opposition, if two people are willing to fight for love, who is anyone else to stop them? As I watched Thea & Edie together, their love was so apparent and real that I thought to myself, “How could anyone oppose something so beautiful and passionate?”

Love is love. It always finds a way whether we want it to or not. I believe it was John Lennon who said “Life is what happens when we’re busy making other plans”… and I’d like to modify it to “LOVE is what happens when we’re busy making other plans.” None of us can help who we fall in love with. All we can do is give it our all and see what happens.

I hope to one day find a love so deep that it sets my whole world on fire. I hope to grow old with that one person who shares such an unconditional love. I hope to die having known that kind of passion. In due time, I believe that it can happen to all of us if we let it. Love knows no boundaries, it knows no gender. Love only knows love.

My Latest Musical Obsession: Chain Gang of 1974

Did I really even need to tell you? Check out the video for “Hold On” and see why I’ve fallen in love with this band.

Artopia 2012: A Review of My First Experience in the Denver Art Scene

Artopia 2012, put on by the Denver Westword, is an incredible night of art, music, food, and a welcoming breath of fresh air for an aspiring artist like me. With five venues and over 75 artists and vendors showcasing their talents, this year’s event was definitely a memorable one.

My best friend, Phil, had mentioned to me earlier in the week that he was going to check out Artopia. I asked him what it was and then later did a little research of my own. After reading about the event and seeing fliers posted all over town, I went ahead and spent the $25 for my ticket. As a first time attendee I didn’t know what to expect and decided that, if it sucked, I’d just head over to my usual watering hole and do my usual thing.

Saturday night came and it was go-time. We hit Club Vinyl first and perused each floor, talking to artists (one had a zombie Tupac shirt I really wanted… damn my bad habit of never carrying cash) and sampling some of the food. I wish I could remember the name the ice cream vendor because their chocolate ice cream was TO DIE FOR!! I grabbed business cards and made my own sticker. There was an awesome interactive display from Soapoint Graphics, a Denver-based design company, that allowed attendees to make their own stickers and leave their mark in colored Sharpie on a giant wall hanging. It was very cool.

There was all kinds of art including a display that involved brass baby heads attached to sculptured chicken bodies… which creeped me out… but I took a picture anyway. After checking out the rest of the artwork on the floors, Phil and I went up on the roof to watch a fire-dance performance which included my favorite, fire hooping. If the smile on my face didn’t say everything that I was feeling at that moment, I don’t know what else could have. It made me proud to be a hooper and inspired me to get good enough to where I too could spin fire someday.

We left Vinyl after the fire and headed over to City Hall… and this part of the evening HAD to be my favorite. The venue was sick! We immediately headed toward the live painting where the fire spinners from Vinyl were performing with LED hoops (*swoon*). There was an artist duo there called the Mad Tatters with freaky, unique pieces of art displayed and I was immediately drawn to one called “Grotesque Divine”. Before really checking out any of the other pieces, I asked the artist to hold GD for me as I was going to buy it. You ever have those experiences where a piece of art just calls to you? That’s exactly what this one did for me. It was like it was made for me.

We then ventured into the main amphitheater where the stage was set up… just in time to hear The Chain Gang of 1974. They had a stage presence that made you not want to leave. Their music is like if The Cure and Depeche Mode made sweet goth electro man-love, popped out an eye-liner wearing, strange haircut having baby, and named it The Chain Gang of 1974. It’s four dudes who know how to get the crowd dancing. In fact, as I’m writing this review, my Spotify player is currently playing their “Wayward Fire” record. I’m really looking forward to my next paycheck so that I can spend it on their music and merch. I danced my ass off to their set and am really looking forward to seeing where this band goes. They’re just too sick.

The night at City Hall ended with tunes from Human Agency, a group of three guys influenced by hip hop, EDM and awesomeness. You could really tell that they were passionate about the music they created and wanted the audience to have a good time. Their beats were funky and I honestly don’t think that anyone could have kept from dancing even if they wanted to. Like The Chain Gang of 1974, Human Agency has earned themselves a new fan.

At around 1am, we ventured over to Bar Standard and watched a magic show. If I remember correctly, I’ve participated in a Circus Sunday class with one of the magicians over at Guildwerks. They said they’re regular performers over at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret so I’m pretty sure it was the same guy. Anyway, I dug the magic show. It was comedic, fun, and able to keep the audience’s attention even though the night was coming to a close. While magic shows aren’t something I check out very often, these guys had the right amount of inappropriateness to keep me interested. I’m thinking I’ll be hitting up Lannie’s sometime soon for more entertainment.

Unfortunately, my friend and I didn’t have a chance to make it to Mo’s or The Living Room so I can’t give a full review of each venue. However, considering the amazing night that was Artopia 2012, I’ll be in attendance each year until they stop putting the showcase on (which I hope is NEVER!). Next year, I’ll make sure to get there early enough to check out each club and take full advantage of all the amazing art that Denver has to offer.

This experience really inspired me to get back into my art. Eventually, I would like to showcase my own pieces and become more involved in the art scene. I kept telling Phil that with each passing day my love for Denver grows. Last night proved once again why I am so proud to call this place home.

Four Tips to Help You Live Life Your Way

As I was getting ready for work this morning (and by getting ready I mean sitting in my pajamas until it was nearly time to leave), I happened upon a very cool blog by this guy named Zack who lives in Buenos Aires. I read one of his posts, liked it, and decided to follow it. When I got home from work this afternoon, I had an alert in my e-mail letting me know that he had posted a new blog. After reading “The Most Important Thing You’ll Ever Learn“, I had chill bumps down my spine. It was like everything this guy said was exactly what I’ve been thinking for the better portion of my life. Needless to say I felt inspired.

So here I am thinking about my reasons for making certain decisions in my life. Why I chose to pack up and move to Colorado. Why I chose to step away from school (again) and pursue my passion of writing and editing through other means. Why I’m absolutely ok with never having a giant house or a fancy car or a million dollars. And a crap-ton of other why’s.

I think we’re all born for specific purposes. Each one of us gets caught up in distractions and conformity and all too often we forget our uniqueness until something blindsides us and we’re left asking “what the hell happened?” I thought about some of the things that have helped me remember what my purpose is no matter how much crazy shit is going on around me. Perhaps one of these ideas will strike a chord with you too.

1. Step back and look at the big picture. When an artist is working on a painting, he doesn’t sit there with his face pressed up against the canvas carefully planning each and every brush stroke. He may sketch out an idea, play with some color schemes, or put a starting wash on the piece before he ever gets started on the details. Every so often this artist will step back from the piece and take in the big picture. If he doesn’t like what’s happening, he can choose to take the piece in an entirely different direction. It’s the same thing in life. You always have the opportunity to change your circumstances.

2. The only person who lives YOUR life is you. This is a big one. It’s so easy to look to other people for approval when we want to do something. In many cases, the people who we hope will support us (friends, family, spouses, etc.) look at us like we’re crazy. Maybe it’s a business venture, moving to another country, selling all your stuff and hitch hiking across the States for no other reason than simply because you CAN. It can be discouraging and sometimes we may even feel defeated. I know I’ve felt that way on several occasions when what I wanted to do didn’t align with what my loved ones wanted for me. But the fact of the matter is that at the end of the day, YOU are the one who gets to look back on your life and decide if you lived it the way you truly wanted to.

3. Cut your losses. There will always be people who try to bash your dreams and bring you down to their level. They’re the ones who are never happy for you when you accomplish something great. They belittle you when you make positive changes. They try to make you feel as bad as they do because they’ve let their dreams die and they want someone to be miserable with. Do yourself a favor and X those people out of your life. They don’t deserve to be there anyway.

4. Do AT LEAST one thing everyday that makes you happy. My joy is hooping. It is dancing. It is reading. It is laying in the park and feeling the warm grass on my skin on a summer day. It’s coming home and doing my dishes so that I have a clean kitchen to mess up again with an awesome dinner. Find something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside when you do it. No matter how seemingly small your activity is, if it brings you joy, it’s a big deal.

Life is complicated enough without you making it even more so. Instead, perhaps try incorporating some of these ideas into your life and take some of the stress out. I promise you’ll feel a lot better when you do. I know I did. I’m not saying life isn’t a struggle… all I’m saying is that while you’re busy navigating your journey, make sure you’re living for you. Trust me on this.

Is Valentine’s Day REALLY All That Bad?

This Valentine’s Day was the best one that I’ve ever had as a single lady. Cupid’s holiday gets a bad wrap because many people think that since they don’t have a significant other to spend the day with, they should hide out in a corner and hate on everybody else who does. I don’t believe that to be true for a number of reasons, but the most important is this. Valentine’s Day is just another day and no Hallmark holiday should have enough power to make a person feel as though they’re somehow less worthy or deserving of love just because they happen to be single. In fact, it should do the exact opposite.

Single & Smokin' on Valentine's Day!

You know why you’re single on Valentine’s Day? Because that awesome person you’ve been searching for is making sure that everything is perfect for when he/she finally meets you. You’re single because the Universe wants you to have just as much fun loving yourself as you would another person. Or hey, maybe that person is running a few minutes late to a dinner that they’re going to be totally miserable at, and as they’re getting out of their car in the parking garage they happen to run into you and knock all the books you just bought at the Tattered Cover out of your hands. When they stop to help you pick them up, your eyes meet and suddenly you’re in one of those sappy romantic comedies that you hate to love so much. I don’t even have to go into what happens next. You already know.

I don’t have a boyfriend at this point and I didn’t let that stop me. I made reservations at Encore on Colfax (you MUST go there by the way) and went on a friend date with my awesome pal, Erin. We got dressed up, drank fine wine, ordered delicious food, and all in all had a fabulous time. Yes, there were couples sitting around us. But after observing a few of them, I noticed that a couple of those people didn’t seem all that happy. In fact, they looked quite bored. I think my friend and I were having more fun stuffing our faces and laughing together than those other people who were only there because they felt obligated.

So you see, Valentine’s Day, like any other day will base itself off of the energy you put out. If you think Valentine’s Day sucks and its only purpose is to remind you of how lonely and pathetic you are, well… then yeah. That’s what it’s here for. But if you look at it as an opportunity to take the most bad ass mother trucker (you) this world has ever seen out on a date, then that’s exactly what it’s here for too. It’s all perspective my dear friends. What kind of power are you going to give this day of love?

Think about it and let me know.

What If…

Sometimes I wish I knew who you were. It seems that on nights like these, when I’m at home watching quirky movies, reading books about lost and found lovers, cooking dinner for two even though I’m only one, and dreaming so vividly that my reality completely shifts… it’s nights like these when I miss you the most.

You see… I’m looking for you. Perhaps that in and of itself is a mistake. You don’t find love. Love finds you… and it finds you at the most (in)opportune times.

The heater is on and I’m writing this from under the little tent I made out of my bed covers. But I’m still cold. I can’t help but wonder who you are… where you’ve come from… what you feel like. Time seems to pass so slowly when you’re searching, and again perhaps therein lies my error.

What if I’m not supposed to find you… and you’re not supposed to find me? What if we’re supposed to find each other at that precise moment in time when neither of us are looking? What if…

Hooping: My Heaven

I bought myself a hoop sometime during the second half of the summer. It was a pink and purple, two-pound hoop that I planned to use specifically for exercise. At that time I hadn’t even considered the idea of learning how to dance with my hoop or find other people in my neighborhood who may have had a similar interest. All I wanted to do was get a little bit of a workout in the privacy of my home. It wasn’t until I had pretty much nailed waist hooping and could keep the hoop spinning for about twenty consecutive minutes that I decided I wanted to learn how to do tricks. 

By the time October rolled around, I had really taken an interest in the ART of hooping. There were plenty of tutorials on Youtube to choose from and I watched a few to try to learn some things. However, I soon found out that my apartment simply wasn’t big enough for me to even attempt many of the tricks I wanted to learn. So, I began my search for other hoopers in my community. I didn’t realize how big the Denver hoop scene was and I’ve only met a small fraction of the awesome folks in it. My good friend, Baby, happens to live two blocks from me and her and I now hoop together regularly. 

My collection of hoops is growing. It’s currently at four which all vary in size and weight. I have no intention of stopping my collection here. With as easy as they are to make, don’t be surprised if I have a wall full of hoops someday. 

I’ve progressed quickly and can now hoop around my waist, foot, thigh, neck, hand and elbow. The tricks are a bit harder and take time to master, but I intend to master them all. Hooping has really helped me focus my energy on one thing at a time. If I’ve had a rough day, I walk to Cheesman Park and practice a trick until I get it perfect (even if I only get it perfect once). Hooping helps me turn negative energy into positive and by the time I’m finished, I don’t even care to think about what was wrong anymore. It’s like a weight is lifted off of my shoulders and I can pay attention to things, or people, that matter more than my problems. 

I guess you could say that hooping has become my own personal heaven. It ranks right alongside writing and painting for me except one benefit that I get with hooping that I don’t get with the other art forms is a sweet set of abs. While I don’t have them just yet, I will. I’ve already noticed a considerable difference in my waistline since I started and I feel great about that. I also incorporate my own style of dancing into hooping which just makes it even more fun.

Who isn’t happy when they’re jammin’ out to their favorite tunes, dancing, hooping and laughing? I know I am. 

I’m really glad to have found such a seemingly simple activity that makes me smile as often as I do. I’m also super excited to start choreographing some routines and make videos to show anybody who wants to watch. There’s really no sense in being this happy if you can’t share it with the world, right? So, in closing… keep an eye out for updates, photos, videos and maybe even a live performance here or there. I’ve got some cool stuff in store with this hoop business.

 

 

 

A Letter From the Future to the Past

January 4th, 2013

Dear Rachael of the Past,

Wow… what a year 2012 was! I can’t believe how crazy my life has been over the last twelve months. At first I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen… but I’ve accomplished a ridiculous amount this year. Definitely more than I had ever thought possible.

I got a new job. It’s everything that I have been wanting and I’ve been there for about nine months now. It’s nothing like my old job at the hospital. I do what I love… I get to write about all kinds of interesting subject matter and no one day is the same as the next. I’m making about $20,000 more than I was which bumped me up to $50K. Talk about sweet! My coworkers are amazingly talented writers and we’re all quite creative. It seems that our hair colors change as quick as the projects do and I can’t tell you how awesome it is to be able to come to work in my sweats if I want. In fact, I oftentimes do. Not only that… I get to sleep in a few times a week… no more getting up at 6am. The alarm on my phone is all but useless.

My artwork has progressed and I’ve even sold a few of them. The stress relief that I feel when I paint  totally rules. Oh, and guess what!? I’ve become super awesome at hooping and my bass no longer collects dust in the corner of my house. I’ve put together a couple dance routines and learned some rad tricks with my hoop. The Hoopkateers have really taken off and because of this, I’ve lost the extra 30 pounds that I had on me before I started. These abs are definitely something to be proud of.

I’ve written a couple songs on my bass and am pretty close to getting this band started. Remember the metal band that I’ve been dreaming about since childhood? Yeah. It’s almost here. Give it a few more months and who knows… maybe I’ll be writing to you about the shows I just played.

I visited New York and Seattle this year. Both of which were rad. I met a ton of new people and made a lot of great contacts. I even gained a couple clients who I’m now doing freelance writing projects for. I went to LA and visited all of my friends there. It was so great to see them all again after such a long time. Oh, and I finally got my passport and I’m going on a trip to Ireland in a month. After all this time, I’m finally going.

I have a boyfriend now. We’ve been together for a few months and he’s rad. We go to shows a lot, go skateboarding, hang out and just have fun. He’s my best friend and I don’t know what I’d do without him. We’re both independent and the jealousy factor is pretty much nonexistent. It’s really quite a lovely situation for both of us. To be honest, I love the guy and the best part of it is… he loves me too. The guy can match me when it comes to farting which, to some, may be kind of disgusting. But you know how I am. We compliment each other well.

One more thing that you’re going to be proud of me for doing… I finally started writing my book and I’m about half way through. I’ve decided to make it an urban fantasy series and I’ve got a couple agents and publishers interested in it when it’s finished. I’m not sure how many books I’ll write for this particular series, but I figure I’ll get through the first one before I start thinking about any of the others. Either way… it’s great that this is finally panning out. Great things happen when you finally stop being lazy.

I’m very close to completing school. I believe I only have one more month left. By the way, the lip balm I created works great. There is already one shop in Boulder that carries it and I’m working on getting it into a few shops here in Denver.

It’s really awesome to be doing so many things that I love. It’s like I don’t ever have to work. Life is just that good and I’m super stoked. I know that it only gets better from here. Yeah, there were a few rough spots but life wouldn’t be interesting without them and I’d never grow into the amazing person that I have. So, while the tough times sucked a bit I’m very grateful for them. They helped to shape who I am and what I aspired (and aspire) to be.

I can’t wait for you to see who I am a year from today in 2014. Prepare yourself because it’s only going to get wilder… and never forget that I love you.

Love,

Rachael of the Future

All I Needed was a Snow Day

I called in to work today after spending 20 minutes simply trying to get off my street… and it seems this day off is exactly what I needed. After a particularly tumultuous day yesterday that left me drained and wondering if I could even stand to get up this morning, the gods gave me a bit of a break with a ridiculous amount of snow.

When I walked out to my car this morning there was about nine inches of snow just chillin’ on the roof and another foot surrounding the vehicle itself. I brushed the snow off, got inside and turned on some In Flames. Perfect music for the holiday season if you ask me. I was able to get down the street, but when I tried to turn left on Colfax I got stuck. I backed up, tried to turn right and got stuck again. After numerous attempts to get unstuck, I backed into a parking space and turned my car off. It looked like work was going to have to wait. There just wasn’t anything I could do.

I walked back into my apartment after letting the higher ups know the sitch and got back into my sweats. About an hour later I went and checked to see if the snow had lightened up at all. Nope. It had only gotten worse and so had the roads. I made a “Rachael’s safety” executive decision and decided that it would be best for me to just stay home. From what I’ve been told, people generally like having me around and what kind of jerk would I be if I went and got myself in an accident? A big one.

So I’m sitting here comfortably in my warm bed thinking about some things and helping my mom get some little writing projects done. Having this day to decompress is doing wonders for my attitude and I feel like I could go to work with a better outlook… but I feel like the snow has other plans. At least for my actually getting to my place of employment that is. I’m thinking some reading, writing, meditation and perhaps some painting and laundry are in order. Sending out some good vibes for a few necessary changes would probably be a good idea too.

Today, it’s gonna be about me and getting my mental state in better shape from the comfort of my little apartment. It’s the season of Yule (or Christmas, Hannukah, or whatever festivity you deem appropriate) and people are supposed to have some things to be happy about. Certain aspects of my life have been less than appealing as of late but I figure I’ve got a whole lot more to be happy about. With that being said, I’m off to make myself some food and immerse myself in a story book.

Stay classy, friends.