The Epic Return

And I'm back! I know. World's worst blogger. I took a hiatus because life was just too darn full too sit down. It's the cusp of March and the last time I blogged was August.

My world is about to turn pear-shaped. Time ticks by despite our best intentions.

The most interesting part of these last few months ended 10 days ago. I met a young, single man here in MarriedMecca. Probably the last unattached male in this area code. And the way we met is unconventional (like me) and he was tall with a barrel chest and a deep belly-laugh. I think he liked me very much because he told me as much. He was good company for many reasons. It's unusual to find someone that you can sit and talk too for long stretches and you glance at the clock and realize it's so late and how did that happen? 

And in very quick moments he would look at me and tell me how lucky he felt that he had found me. I like those memories and those are the things I will keep close. I'm far too young to be bitter. 

Bitterness is dangerous. It makes the heart grow cold. It starts like a cancer cell and grows many layers below the flesh until it blossoms. 

Then all hope is lost and you've lost the most important part of yourself. The heart.   

Trouble Been Doggin' My Soul

Hurray for summer and all of it's lazy delights.


 I spent a week in Peru and have returned with a layer of bug bites and sun coated on my skin. My trip was a volunteer mission trip + a day of tourism. I learned a few things.


1. Poverty sucks. This statement is obvious and downplays the seriousness of the conditions I witnessed. 
2. People are good. The individuals encountered were full of good spirit and light despite how little they possessed.
3. I am spoiled. There were moments where I thought to myself, "Thank God I don't live here." Then I became ashamed and embarrassed, guilty that I felt this way. I've always wanted to live abroad, but living in poverty abroad is an entirely different experience.
4. I want to see more of the world. 


 Now I'm back in the states and need a way to spend my time. I like the relaxation, but with nothing to do my mind tends to wander. I think of things to worry about and that's not good for the soul. I'm thinking a trip to the local library is in order and the starting of numerous art projects in necessary. 

   

Diets are Bananas

I have to come to a food resolution. In our society, everyone thinks they're an expert on loosing weight. We have the All Grapefruit Diet, the Cabbage Diet, the Atkins Diet, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, The Daniel Fast, Low carb High Protein, Gluten-Free, blahblahblah. And yet, we're all still chubby. I have tried a variety of different methods to cutting the pounds, including some sketchy pills that may have been legal meth. However, I am still not waifish and fragile looking like a Victoria Secret Model in Barbados.

What's the resolution? Screw diets. Simply stated, I am going to find healthy foods I like to eat. You know what health food I don't like? Bananas. I HATE bananas. I don't like the taste or the texture, but for years I have tried to eat bananas because they're suppose to be healthy for you. Yeah, that's awesome except I find them totally disgusting. There are many healthy food items out there. I just have to find ones that are 100% for me.

 

Exit the Crazy Train

 I do not mind being alone if the alternative is being connected to someone who is bad for me. I would like to think that no one is a regret, but that each person we are linked to presents us with experiences in which we learn something about ourselves. I think, above all else, I miss the companionship. It's a luxary to have a someone who will wrestle your couch up two flights of stairs or eat Sushi with you while watching Netflix; a person to think about when you should be thinking about work; and a partner in crime when ordering Ethnic food. However, if the dark spots outshine the light, than one of the parties must say, "Exiting now". The only mistake I believe I made was not being the one to say that and that I didn't say it sooner. Because, if two people are not meant to be, than what's the point of dragging each other through the mud for one second longer than necessary? It is better to break apart and dash away from the other as fast as your feet can carry you and to not dare look back less you become a pillar of salt.

Futhermore, my sister, who is a sage despite being barely 21 years of age, called me today. We were exchanging our woes with the opposite sex. She says, "My life is complete. I have good friends and God, everything else is a bonus." Talk about knocking me on my ass with her wisdom.    



Bobblehead.

I'm not dead! After a long hiatis from blogging, I have returned. In the last three months I moved to a new state, started a new job, and moved into a new apartment. It's been alot of change. Looking back at older posts, it's hard to know how much my life has changed in a short amount of time. I live seven hours away from all my friends and my parents. I wake up at 5:30 every morning and go to bed around the same time as the elderly. I wonder sometimes if I did the right thing or if I made a mistake. Somedays I hate the choice I made when I hear from friends who still live close to one another. I hate that I'm missing out on their lives. I don't like the fact that I don't have any friends (save 2) in this city. I spend my evening by myself alot or I call up a coworker who for whatever reason enjoys spending time together. I want things on my walls and I want pictures in places to remind me of all the people I love. I think the water is giving me acne (or it's the stress of my job). But I like my job. I have no idea if I'll be here in the Fall or if I should try to move back home or if I should just move to China.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING.

 But hey, that's the beauty of being 23

Bruschetta for the Cooking-Disabled

Since it's been hot as Hell recently, I've been eating a lot of bruschetta. It's 100% delicious and pretty cheap to make. Plus, it makes you look like you know how to cook so you can impress your friends. Now read this! 

Ingredients

4 large, ripe tomatoes

1/2 red onion

6-8 basil leaves

1/2 block of cream cheese

pinches of salt and pepper

1 baguette loaf

Olive oil

1 large bowl and a wooden spoon 

1. Dice tomatoes. You'll have to remove the seeds under some running water. Throw all this goodness in a large mixing bowl.

2. After removing the outside skin, dice your red onion. Wear swimming goggles to protect your eyes. Add to your tomatoes. 

3. Stack your basil leaves on top of each other. Roll leaves into a tiny burrito. Cut the burrito long ways THEN finely dice. Some people like more basil than others. It's up to you. Add to bowl. 

4. Drizzle this yumfest with some quality olive oil. You're not drowning it, you just want enough OO to coat all the tasty stuff. For our OCD cooks, let's say 1/4 c.  

5. Cube your cream cheese and lightly mix in. Now, some recipes call for a finer cheese, but mine is wallet savvy. For calorie complainers, you can use finely shredded mozzarella. 

6. Salt and pepper to taste.

Cover and set in frig for 30 minutes (Unless you can't wait that long and read below).

7. Toast some baguette slices on a grill or in a toaster or conventional oven.

8. Load your slices and EAT!

[Side note] Bruschetta varies depending on who makes it. It's really up to you and what you like. I've seen it with corn, yellow peppers, and cut up avocado. Various recipes can be found online. I just like mine because it takes zero effort. 

Thank God

It's the weekend.

Have you juiced today? It's the best way to start a meaningful evening. It's very simple and less expensive than getting wasted in a seedy bar. 
First- Buy a juicer
Second- Juice Fuji apples, watermelon, a peeled lemon, and possibly something else really yummy.
Third- Pour concoction over ice and use a colorful straw. 
*You'll feel good and you won't have a hangover the next day!

Bare.

Life is about loving simple things. What could be more simple than skinny dipping? I love it. We have a fenced in pool and late at night, shrouded in total darkness, I can be found in my birthday suit smoking a cigarette. Some people are totally horrified by this and I point out that everyone is naked under their bathing costumes. I recommend skinny dipping to everyone if you want to live a full life.

Jason, we need more coffee

This weekend I visit my grandparents for my grandmother's 80th birthday. Her four children + one granddaughter (Moi) surprised her at this B&B near their house. Usually family gatherings make me nervous and grouchy because everyone uses yelling and broad hand gestures as a form of communication. However, this event was particularly enjoyable. My aunt and uncle invited me to move to North Carolina to pursue job leads down there. I like this idea. 

Furthermore, my granddad was able to see his children without the loud noises of a restaurant. My granddad used to be a brilliant engineer, essentially you can thank him for inventing the seatbelts in your car. Dementia has whittled away at his brain the last six years and now he can't remember anything from the past or present. Sometimes he looks like his old self and says non-crazy things. I was looking at old photos of him and very much wanted the man in the pictures back.

Un-Employment and the Art of being Schooled.

Yesterday, Betina and I went to a job seminar for the jobless. Can we talk about a humbling experience? My mother was unemployed for roughly a year not too long ago. She would talk about her fellow comrades and the mighty rat race that comes with the territory of job seeking. However, I was very schooled by some of the hardships facing others; jobless for years, foreclosuress, sole beadwinnders, alot of fear, no health benefits, dwindling 401ks..ect.

Lesson learned? I am doing GREAT.

Side note: Training for a half marathon when you are a newbie to running sucks. I can't seem to get over the four mile mark. Is it because I'm too chunky? Am I not stretching enough? Am I not eating enough? Maybe I should start weight lifting...