Can't Get Them Outta My Head

Short blog. Just two songs I'm addicted to right now and can't stop playing in my car, at the gym, at work, on my computer (you get the idea), so I thought you might enjoy them as well.

Be The One- Moby

Sail- AWOLNATION

A Guide to Recognizing Your Sole

Every color, bump, callus and curve on your foot tells a story of your health. This story, when read by a

trained Reflexologist, can lead to a healthier, more balanced life through different pressure techniques

applied at certain reflex zones of the foot.  Reflexology itself is described as an alternative medical

approach to overall improved health and well being.  It dates back to ancient Egypt and is commonly

used in India and China with it now becoming more mainstream in the Unites States as the demand for

alternative medicine grows.

The bottom of each foot holds thousands of nerve endings that correlate with various systems including

the nervous system, immune system and lymphatic system. These nerve endings are then grouped into

different reflex zones which allow the reflexologist to determine what health issues might be at hand and to

literally work on them from the bottom up. By applying pressure to certain reflex points, where the

reflexologist has determined an area of concern, the body can begin to relax and heal itself. 

Benefits of reflexology include reduced stress, relief of aches and pains, improved digestion and sleep, and

overall mental and physical well being. A good piece of advice is to remember that a reflexologist cannot

diagnose an ailment or provide a cure.  They can, however,  relax the body and improve circulation which

brings a balanced state back to the body.  Many people have moved to this alternative approach at healing

having reported great improvement in their health. It has become much easier to locate a reflexologist as

reflexology clinics are emerging all over the states and more and more massage therapists are adding this to

their skill set. Now might be right time for you to allow your feet to tell their story of your health and

wellness.

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All if Forlorn for I've Lost my Mind

Have a Little Faith

Have a Little Faith

Hey there

Hey there

Look at me

I’m what you’re missing

What you need

Look out

Look in

Look at your soul

I’m all around

I make you whole

I’m in your heart

I’m in your mind

I’m in the places that you hide

Relax

Relax

And let me in

Dont be afraid

Give in

Give in

I’m what you want

And what you need

Is simply

Simply

To believe

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I Know

Falling Down Stairs and Kidnapping Friends

With all of the sad things going on in the world I thought we could all use a good laugh. Have at it!

The Fall

Last week at work I had the pleasure of accidentally entertaining my fellow co-workers when I took a little tumble down the stairs. I didn't actually trip on anything as much as I believe Karma pushed me down the stairs. I was joking around at people not using our 20 step staircase at work and instead using the ancient elevator. Two seconds after that I fell. The fall itself felt (and apparently looked) like it took five minutes when it should've only taken a few seconds. 

During my fall the following took place: First, I somehow handed my tea mug to my co-worker so that it would be safe...love my tea. Then I realized that the other associates that share our building were having a morning huddle 20 feet away on the first floor and instead of worrying about hurting myself, or you know, dying, I was worried about them hearing me fall like a fool down the stairs. I attempted to recover at each step, but instead ended up falling down on only the left side of my body like some kind of an odd human bouncy ball.

I held on to my purse and my documents as I fell and once I neared the bottom I attempted to pass them off to my manager who was trying not to die laughing, but wasn't succeeding. When I finally hit bottom I promptly sat up straight, mentally assessed the damage, and tried very hard to pretend like that didn't just happen. Then I busted out laughing while whining as everything on the left side of me started to ache. It went something along the lines of "Ha ha ha..ouch...ha ha...that's gonna bruise...ha ha ha...*whimper*..." and so on.

I later found out that the team downstairs did indeed hear the fall and proceeded to joke about me (not my other coworkers, no, just me) potentially falling, when in all reality they had no idea I had actually fallen to, what could've have been, my almost death. Instead they innocently thought it was a box one of us dropped. I tried to fall silently but clearly it didn't work. I'm fine and came out mostly unscathed thanks to old carpeted stairs. At least everyone got to start the week out with a good, long laugh.

Moral of the story: Next time you think about making fun of anything be prepared for Karma to kick you in the behind promptly and efficiently. 

The Kidnapping

My dear, dear friend was getting married and it was time to plan her bachelorette party. There is something you have to know about me and my groups of friends...we like having ridiculous amount of fun doing ridiculous things while simultaneously embarrassing the heck out of ourselves. It doesn't matter if it's a baby shower, bridal shower, girls nights out, or just a regular day driving in the car. One day I'll go into more detail with some stories, but for now just know that what I'm about to tell you is fairly "normal" for us.

For this special occasion I knew I wanted to do something to throw her off. I have participated in a bachelor party kidnapping and often think back fondly on the hilariousness of that, so I decided it was
time to throw another body in the back of my SUV.


It all started with a friendly ransom note to the bride-to-be to let her know when to be ready. I also informed her mom of the situation since the kidnapping would take place at her house and I didn't want her to call 911. My brilliant friend Jess helped to plan out the details to follow, so I can't take all the credit for this beautifully crazy plan.

We had mapped out everything before hand, to make sure all of us kidnappers were on the same page. We decided we would be the scary people from the horror movie Deliverance, but with a modern day twist. We even had a script all figured out.

First we put on bandanas and sunglasses to assume the proper identities. We put my small dogs giant teddy bear, that he slobbers on, in the back of the car as a cushion for her head and to basically just gross her out. The captive has to have some torture, right? I loaded the Dueling Banjo song from Deliverance on my iPod and set it to repeat. We pulled up in the driveway, banjo music on blast, and threw the car doors open. We ran in the house, blindfolded her, tied her arms behind her back, and made our escape. I hardly saw her brother, who had no idea of this event, sitting on the sofa staring at me with a mixed look of concern and awesomeness. Her mom cutely waived at us and told us to have a nice time.

As all of this is happening the innocent little neighbor kid next door was staring at us. He completely stopped playing with his ball and just watched us, unsure of what exactly was going on in his quiet, peaceful neighborhood. We put the bride in the back of the SUV, and by back I do mean the area where luggage, groceries, and of course bodies, would go. Then the two Jessica's (my fellow kidnappers) did a lovely little Four Square kind of a dance around the car to the banjo music while I took numerous pictures, thus scarring the little neighbor kid for life, I'm sure.

To keep things confusing for her I drove like a maniac, pulling into random neighborhoods to throw her off, backing up, stopping suddenly and pretending to stop and pick up another person that we were kidnapping as well. The other person consisted of nothing except Jess, who has some amazing sound effects. Still, it through her off for a bit. Jess also makes a very convincing crazy hillbilly which made the whole ride that much more interesting. We did the whole soooo-eee pig call at will, randomly shouted out things we thought the Deliverance people would have said, and interrogated her as to what type of a drink she would like for the evening to come.

At one point we decided we needed to up the ante a little, so we stopped and got some food to feed our little captive. We got some of that canned cheese stuff, crackers, and chocolate donut holes. The final destination was The Melting Pot (see how nice we really are?) so this served as a good pre-dinner course of what was to come, kind of.  First we gave her the crackers and cheese. Then we switched it up on her without mentioning anything and gave her the chocolate donut hole which pretty much freaked her out since she wasn't expecting that at all. Not part of the plan, but it was pretty funny.

The whole time we were driving I was a little afraid that some of the other cars on the freeway might notice someone bound in the back of my car, especially since we were playing the banjo music, yelling, and flailing our arms around, and that they might just call the cops on us. Luckily they didn't notice or they were too scared by our insanity to even consider it. Finally we arrived at The Melting Pot, got out, and left her Ashley in the car.

Then we came back, got her out, and surprised her with a nice fondue meal. I'm pretty sure she thought the kidnapping was worth it.

Good food and great memories, what could be better? Maybe not being in the back of a car for an hour.

Next time we'll keep that in mind.

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Ban This!

Pay it Forward

I've never run out of clean water. I've never not had electricity for more than 2 hours, tops. I live in a state where the worst thing that mother nature can throw at us is a lot of sunshine resulting in a lot of sunburns. No earthquakes, floods, tornado's, tsunamis, or hurricanes.

Every time a disaster hits we see it, we hear about it, and we maybe, kind of feel it. Japan was just devastated and things are not looking up. This time I feel it slightly more than I have with the other ones because a friend of mine from school lives there. She's fine right now and I hope with all my heart that her and her family will be safe throughout all of this.

Pay it forward is a concept taken from a movie of the same title where a little boy randomly picks three strangers to help. In return for his help they each have to help three strangers. They must also pass the message on that those three people have to reach out to an additional three. If you're doing the math here you can just go ahead and stop... I'll make this easy for you. The more people you help, the more people they can help until suddenly everyone is helping everyone else. It's an exceptional movie and an even more exceptional concept. It doesn't even just have to apply to people. Help an animal, pick up trash, plant a tree...do three goods things any way that you can. It all adds up.

Right now you can help Japan. Living Social is offering a 100% match to contributions made to the American Red Cross. You donate $5 and they match it. I don't work for them, but I did just see it and I think it's a good start. It's easy, simple and you still have 10 hours to participate. Even if this "deal" runs out you can always reach out and help in other ways.

So right now I'm paying it forward with you. I donated and am now telling you. It's you're turn. Find three people (or more) and pass on this blog, link, or anything that you think would help make a difference. Help while you can, when you can, because you never know when you might need help yourself.

http://livingsocial.com/deals/32115-5-for-10-donation-to-red-cross-relief-efforts

I Know

I know

In my dreams I see a field

Of a land that’s far away

In a country I have been to

In a place I long to stay

Where my daydreams often wander

Making my pulse race and rise

Everyday I’m closer, closer

To the soil I desire

In my heart I feel a sorrow

That I’ve buried deep below

For the past that I have chosen

And the seeds that I have sown

In my prayers I ask for answers

What to do next, where to go

How to break free from the prison

Where I’ve locked away my soul

In my mind I know my purpose

Though my logic makes me question

Such a reason for my being

Why I feel I need permission

Though this passion burns inside me

Thoughts of leaping leave me waiting

Every moment spent in wondering

Is a moment I am wasting

The Diving Bell, The Butterfly, and My Dad

A while back I rented the movie The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. What I had known, prior to renting it, was that it was true, involved a former magazine editor who had a stroke and became paralyzed, and then wrote a book, dying shortly after. What I did not know was how much it reflected my own life which would then spur me to realize things I had not been aware of prior.

I won't ruin it for you in case you want to watch it, but will give you this brief summary. The story is of Jean-Dominique Baub, the French editor of Elle Magazine. He was taking a drive one day with his young son when he suffered a stroke causing him to become paralyzed with only the ability to blink. He was in a nursing home for about a year and a half and during that time wrote a book with the assistance of an "interpreter", for lack of a better word. The book was published, became a hit, and eventually was made into the movie. It chronicles memories of his life, his family, what he missed and took for granted but didn't realize until he could no longer enjoy life as he had prior.

The movie is exceptional. It is also exceptionally sad. My purpose here is not to depress anyone, but instead tell a little story and to help you possibly see your life in a new and grateful way.

When I was a baby my dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis or MS. It hit him hard and quick and by the time I was 3 he was paralyzed and could only blink. This movie really got me due to those reasons, but it also made me realize things I hadn't and should've a very long time ago.

My dad's life was vastly different than Jean-Dominique, except when it came to the inability to move, speak, or function as a normal person. My dad was in a nursing home for five years while doctors tried to figure out a cure, although he had MS for a total of nine years, with my mom caring for him at home the first few until it became too difficult. During this time MS wasn't very well known and no one really knew what to do. My dad could also not speak and we used the blinking method to communicate as well, however, I was little and didn't really have the patience to "talk" for long. Instead I would help the nurses, make friends with the nice elderly people and play games all over the nursing home since nothing was off limits to "John's little girl". We were there every day, several times a day, for those five years.

Communicating through blinking is a long and tedious process. It was also the 80's then and I found it surprising that in the time Jean-Dominique used that same method it was years and years later and that was still as advanced as they'd gotten. The thing that got me was hearing and really seeing for the first time how hard that life was. My dad had to live if for a much longer time than Jean-Dominique and to see what a challenge it was made me realize things I hadn't before.

I realized how little my life really sucked or just how easy I really had it when I thought I didn't. How nothing I have gone through or dealt with could ever compare to what he had to do every single day. How I needed to appreciate life more and all the things I am able to do and just simply quit complaining. It was a good wake up call to start living my life appropriately.

Below is the poem I wrote after I saw the movie and had all of these realizations. Life is to be lived, even in the difficult moments, and one must always remember that it really could be worse and we should never, never take for granted what we have been given or the strength inside of us to make ourselves and our lives better.

I Have Never Suffered

I thought my pain was endless

That I was empty, hollow

Destined to suffer for eternity

Until last night

Until I realized

I’ve never

Never

Never suffered like you

My shadow filled days will never compare to your pitch black nights

And days

And weeks

And months

That never ended

That lasted for years

That were still, quiet, frozen

That you couldn't escape

How you only had one thing to look forward to

Every. Single. Day.

One moment

And when it was time to say goodbye for the day

The Nothing returned

The emptiness of a heart still beating

A brain still thinking

But a body unmoving

Trapped in your own existence

Never to hold your daughter again

Never to kiss your wife

Alone in a way no one could feel but you

I will never truly understand

I thought my pain was endless

That I was empty, hollow

Destined to suffer for eternity

Until last night

Until I realized

I’ve never

Never

Never suffered like you

My empty heart will never compare to your broken, shattered soul

To a dream that ended before it began

To a life unimagined

To a love so rare and true that no one

No one

Will ever fill that void

Or ever make you whole

I never understood how alone you really were

And still are

And may always be

How you sacrificed it all without question

Without regret

And how somehow you feel guilty for something you couldn’t control

Something you didn't ask for

Something you bravely never walked away from

And freely sacrificed everything

Everything

That a normal life would resemble

For us

For him

And now, for her

I will never truly understand

I thought my pain was endless

That I was empty, hollow

Destined to suffer for eternity

Until last night

Until I realized

I’ve never

Never

Never suffered like you

My emotional numbness will never compare to your heart breaking aloneness

To losing yourself to age

And time

And feeling like a burden to others

Where you can no longer see well

Or hear well

And can barely get around your own house

And how you stay, I know this, you stay

For me

Because I am selfish and can't let you go

I will never truly understand

I thought my pain was endless

That I was empty, hollow

Destined to suffer for eternity

Until last night

Until I realized

I’ve never

Never

Never suffered like them

I will never know the stillness of a man immobilized by his own body

Unable to decide for himself

Unable to take care of his family

Unable to do anything

Anything

But blink

I will never know the emptiness of a woman who lost everything she had ever wanted

Who sacrificed it all

And who waited patiently

For years

Until hope ran out and she was truly alone

Because there was only one person for her

And I know that nothing

Not even time

Will heal her heart

I will never know the aloneness of a woman who’s lived for nearly a century

Who’s seen her best friend and lifelong companion pass on

Who has aged so gracefully

And been so independent

Until now

When time has started to set in

And slowed her

Changed her

Made her begin to fade away

I will never truly understand these things. I have felt but a fraction of what they have lived. I have seen nothing.

And they may never truly know how exceptional they really are           

How amazing

And strong

And brave beyond measure

And how wonderful they are

How so few would do what they have done

How most would have given up

How practically no one would have been so selfless

So kind

So loving

To stay

To try

To do it all

For me

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India- Part 3: Jaipur and Agra

India is a vast and amazing place. Everything looks the same and different, all at once. The colors of India are what make the difference. The bright pinks, greens, reds, and blues make everything stand out. In a place so dusty and with such extreme poverty, the people of India keep everything bright.

We were now in Jaipur and had the opportunity to get some quality street time in as we had a free afternoon. We went for a little walk out behind our hotel and ended up at one of the busiest outdoor markets ever. You had to cautiously navigate your way through the people, cars, bikes, dogs and random cows. At one point I got stuck behind a car and this nice little Indian lady came over to me and helped me through the traffic. She didn't even know me, just saw me standing there, debating, and she helped me through, laughed with me a little, and waved goodbye. So sweet and colorful in her red clothing.

The streets were full of children begging, which is probably the hardest thing to see there. You want to help them. It's so easy to help them even, the US dollar goes so far, but you can't. You're specifically told not to because if you give one child a dollar they signal another child down the street, then they signal someone and soon the entire neighborhood is on the lookout for the tourist who gives money away. We kept walking and telling the children "no" as we had been told, but soon a group of kids were following us anyway. They followed us for blocks, begging at first, kindly, then getting irritated and angry, pulling on us and getting in front of us. I have never experienced anything like this so it was tough. I had a mixture of sad and irritated feelings flowing through me. I wanted to help, I couldn't, and it wouldn't necessarily be safe if I did. Such an odd and awful thing to experience.

That night we went to an old palace that had been converted into a restaurant. We had an amazing meal, but had even better entertainment with the dancers. They twirled round and round, stacked clay pots on their heads and stomped on nail beds. They were fantastic...and so were the tourists that joined in. At one point a guy from another group got up and did some serious wild and crazy dancing with the ladies. Then more joined in. I sat there debating whether or not to completely embarrass myself with everyone else and quickly realized I may never be in India again and have this opportunity. I jumped in with the rest of them and soon everyone at the restaurant was dancing.

Photo Credit: Melia Metikos 2011

The next morning we went to Amber Fort where we rode elephants all the way to the top. This was my favorite part of the whole trip. Not just because I've always secretly wanted my own baby elephant ever since I saw Dumbo, but also because the sights on the way up were breathtaking. The scenery all around was stunning and the ride itself was very peaceful, almost meditative, as long as you kept your balance and didn't lean too far forward (which would result in falling off the elephant entirely). Inside the fort were breathtaking winter and summer temples, each with their own theme of glass and clay. Also inside the fort was a cute little monkey that had gotten stuck on a ledge. He had somehow climbed down too far and was having a hard time getting back. First it was just our group watching him, then others, then a whole crowd formed. We all stood by, holding our breath and cheering him on. We probably scared him, in hindsight, but he did get out, and the crowd erupted with applause. A moment later I spotted the snake charmers.

At first I was ridiculously excited. Then I was slightly annoyed because I was pretty sure the snake was fake since it never moved, not once, and did appear rubbery and heck, I was in India, so I really wanted to see real snake charmers. Next,  I was terrified. You see, I was standing much to close to the snake charmers for reasons I don't even understand. I guess I was in awe, like Animal Planet had just arrived in my living room or something. There I was, staring at the snake when the second snake charmer lifted the lid of his straw basket and out popped the snake. Then, he hit it. I mean he very seriously whacked this very deadly snake in the neck, hard, as if he had read my mind and wanted to prove to me it was real. The snake swirled around and spread his neck out and I quickly took my pictures (crazy picture person that I am) and took off to safer corners of the fort where no snakes were lurking (that I knew of anyway).

The entire day in Jaipur was awesome. We saw the outdoor astrology center, we visited a factory where families make rugs for a living (it takes them months to finish one rug), saw the city palace and went to a gem store where they did the gem cutting right on site. We all had a nice dinner and Sunita and I watched some movies in the room, laughed and then pooped out quickly from all of our fun adventures.

Photo Credit: Melia Metikos 2011

The next day we were off on our way to Agra and on the way, stopped at Fatehpur Sikri, another fort like place with dozens of old, amazing buildings. We had a lot of free time and whenever I have any time at all I tend to wander off by myself. I'm not purposely trying to ditch anyone as much as I'm just wanting to see everything that I can possibly see while I can see it. I walked all over the grounds and saw parrots, puppies and one family that asked to have their little girl take a picture with me. I thought it was so cute that she wanted to take a picture with me. She must have thought I was someone famous or something. I was flattered.

We left and headed back out to Agra where we kept speed with a train in the near distance. It was overflowing with people and I saw them waiving to us as we rode, so I waived back. Then they waved some more, excitedly, and I waved back some more, excitedly. Then they started jumping up and down (as much as they could) and blowing kisses at me, to which I had no idea what to do except laugh and pretend to catch them, which I have never been good at. Fake blown kisses always allude me and I look like a crazy person trying to kill bugs that no one sees (ask my poor little nephew who blows me fake kisses that I totally fumble every time). The train excitement went on for a while and then our road split from their track and we waved goodbye to each other.

We went to bed early that night since we were getting up before dawn to see the Taj. A sunrise visit was in the works and none of us wanted to miss that!

More to come...

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