Natural Attachment

January 31, 2011

birthday week 2011 – days 1 & 2

Filed under: Life — Tags: , , , , , , — michele james-parham @ 6:58 pm

Yes, we have birthday weeks around here – why only celebrate like mad men for one day? My birthday week started yesterday, Sunday, and will last until Sunday, February 6th. My actual birthday is tomorrow, February 1st. I’ll be turning 29 years old (and no, I won’t be ‘holding’).

So, yesterday, to get things started off right for the week, I spent my evening with my Dear Other Half and some of the most amazing folks in the ‘burgh at Cheerleaders Gentleman’s Club! Yes, that’s right, I started off my birthday week by going to a strip club! I also spent my 21st birthday in a strip club (somehow, I don’t think that info helps my case at all!). Don’t you judge me! Our dear friend, Courtney was one of the featured bartenders and that served as a perfect excuse to engage in some debauchery for my birthday. Unfortunately, instead of being happy with the Maker’s Mark that I had been drinking all evening at the club, I decided that some wine was an appropriate way to end the evening before finding myself in bed. Two bottles of wine.

So, today, day two of my week, has been a bit of a wash. I’ve had to nurse myself back to health, because I am no rockstar and did not need to drink like I was one. That’s okay, we all make mistakes (learning-takes) and I’ve learned a lot from this one.

I’m looking forward to a pretty easy & simple day tomorrow for day three of my birthday week. I think I might get up and get myself a nice hot cup of tea at Affogato.

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January 30, 2011

hodgepodge

Filed under: Entertainment — Tags: , , , — michele james-parham @ 5:53 pm

These people look fun!

“So who are we, this Gonzo Family, with our own particular brand of awesome that we are slinging at the world from these pages, like the family gangs of gunslingers from the old west?” ~ Gonzo Parents

And you should go check out (if you haven’t already), my friend’s blog, The Uncertainty Principle.

I greatly enjoyed watching this little video (don’t watch if you are offended by the word ‘fuck’). Which led a friend to suggest this video (again, don’t watch if you are offended easily).

This comic made me smile.

Cyanide and Happiness, a daily webcomic

And this, this is just too much cute, Love & awesome in one little package – “What does love mean to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds?” My favourite two quotes from the article are:

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.” ~ Nikka – age 6

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” ~ Billy – age 4

Hope your Sunday was great.

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January 29, 2011

our stories – part 2 – loss

Filed under: Family & Friends,Health,Life,Procreation,Religiosophy — Tags: , , , , — michele james-parham @ 8:29 pm

I think everyone that I know has experienced some kind of loss. I don’t think it’s possible to be human and to not lose something important or someone special to you at some point in your life – probably multiple times. There’s been a lot of literal and figurative loss in and around my life in the last few months.

But I’m still breathing. I’m still holding on. I’m still finding Hope stuffed away in corners of my heart.

Losing something because of another person is painful, but not as painful as losing something because of giving up. Not to say that there are definitely times to fight and times to forget about fighting. We do need a clear idea of what our priorities are, what is most important to us – otherwise we can’t make sound decisions.

Losing something because the Universe decides it, can seem most cruel. But, everything happens for a reason and in due time, everything works out. I believe this. I have to believe this.

I’ve lost two things recently.

Yesterday. I lost a person whom I really liked – not via death, but a kind of distance. This person had been a huge part of my world for the last three months. This person caused me to look at and evaluate a lot in my life – I’m thankful for that. This person made me feel good and made me smile. This person also caused a lot of upheaval in my life – that’s been painful (but pain is only weakness leaving the body). I wasn’t great at communicating with this person – I’ve not been great at communicating with myself or my husband lately either. I’ve learned a lot and squirreled away that knowledge for future reference. I didn’t figure out what I wanted/needed until it was too late. We all make mistakes or learning-takes and we all grow from them.

Last night. I lost a pregnancy. A pregnancy that had begun only four weeks ago at conception. My husband and I have wanted another child for years and we’ve had problems conceiving for one reason or another. I’ve had late cycles before, but nothing as significant as this in recent history. I didn’t want to get attached to this nor get too excited in an effort to diminish possible disappointment. I failed at the last moment. I’ll be okay. My body will be okay – bodies are pretty awesome at taking care of themselves. I’ve been stressed a lot lately. I’ve not been breathing like I should.

Yesterday was a double dose of loss for me, but I’m still here. Tomorrow will be another day. Today is always the greatest day of my life.

But, I can’t dwell on what I’ve lost when I have so much around me to be thankful for and grateful for. I am so loved and loved by so many – I have running water & electricity for crying-out-loud!

Tonight, I’m doing lots of breathing. Tomorrow, I want to start living again.

That’s my story of recent loss. Feel free to share one of your own.

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January 28, 2011

would like to force-feed GMOs to the board of Monsanto

Filed under: Environment,Media — Tags: , , , , , — michele james-parham @ 5:52 pm

Monsanto is at it again.

The Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: What Now?

Manifest Haiti: Monsanto’s Destny

I posted a long time ago about boycotting Monsanto.

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January 27, 2011

tattoo

Filed under: Life,Midwifery,Procreation — Tags: , , — michele james-parham @ 5:43 pm

Today, I went to talk shop about my tattoo. I made my appointment for next Wednesday at 2pm, the day after my 29th birthday.

Here’s what I’m getting (click to see full size):

LaSirena

Color will be added to it about three weeks after the outline is done. I’ll be sure to post pictures of the process.

Also, “outlaw midwives zine” vol2 is out and ready for you to read.

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January 26, 2011

date night

Filed under: Family & Friends,Life — Tags: , , — michele james-parham @ 4:39 pm

Wednesdays are ‘date night’ for my husband and I. We drop the kiddo off at some friends’ house from 7pm until 10pm. We usually go have a bit to eat and a few drinks. It’s nice to have that time. Time to reconnect a little, to unwind a little and to just focus on one another for a few hours.

Do you have a regular ‘date night’ and what do you do during your time together?

On an slightly related note: a friend who knows I’m big on Hot Toddies, passed on this fantastic looking recipe.

Chai Rum Hot Toddy

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"Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it." ~ Brene Brown