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FRIDAY!!! Always one of the best days of the week. I have been making a lot of progress on my feature script in the last few days. My outline is pretty solid, and I think I am going to hit page 10 of the script itself at some point this weekend. My loose goal is to do 10 pages a week (to get a complete rough draft by mid-July), but I think I can probably go faster than that. I’d love to have a second rough draft by the beginning of August for some select people to review. That’s the goal anyway… if I can stick to this, then if I happen to make it to the second round of the competition I entered I will be in a very good place for consideration.
ALSO – we saw Bubble for the first time Wednesday!!! I am so very, very happy with what we captured. The story is already present, and once we get the missing pieces from our pick-ups on June 1st then we will really be rolling. I meet with Ted next Tuesday to discuss score/sound, and Jim will also start his work soon on the CGI elements. James will be doing all the titles and branding, which will be very fun to place in. Joe did an amazing job putting all of the pieces together! I was prepared to still be in a very rough stage at this point, but it is looking good. There is nothing more motivating than watching a project turn into something special. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.
James and I have been doing good with our weight-loss, 3 1/2 weeks to go! I might extend that to 4 weeks…we will see how the progress goes. I would still like to get about 6-8 pounds lighter. I’ve been having MAJOR cravings for a sunny vacation near the water. I am also looking forward with all of my heart to Bonnaroo. I think this summer is going to be a fantastic one!
baby bird in the window
I haven’t done a favorite things list in a long time, so today I want to do one as a reminder of all the wonderful things in my life that I love:
1. Sitting in a park on a beautiful day
2. Making a meal with people that I enjoy being around
3. Watching the yellow ATL airplane make circles around the city
4. Making movies
5. Writing!
6. Dreaming of all the possibilities, and feeling as though they can all come true
7. Popcorn and bad TV
8. Sundresses
9. Ponytails
10. The comfort of sunshine on my skin
11. Petting Baby Kitty as I wake up in the morning
12. Friends new and old
13. Planning trips with my family
14. Bonnaroo! The countdown has begun…
15. The excitement of doing anything new
16. Challenging myself to do things that scare me
17. Most of all… I am so very grateful to have an optimistic attitude and fighting spirit.
Tonight I get to see the first rough cut of Bubble! I could jump 10 feet in the air with excitement. 
I will let you guys know how it goes.
my mom with lucy
a wonderful day for the park
sunshine
homemade pizzas
This week has been a special one in many ways. I spent two wonderful nights with some of my best friends – Wednesday with Micah, and Thursday with Vero. They both made me dinner (I owe them each countless homemade meals!)… it is one of my favorite things in the world to watch them create in the kitchen. They each have very individual styles – Micah made us some cafe style toasted turkey sandwiches on three seed bread with avocado, bacon and cheddar, while Vero made some homemade veggies with her special top-secret spices, dressings and mole (with Belgium chocolate). Both were amazing treats! I am so very lucky to have them both. They are the definition of unconditional love.
The other big thing that happened this week was… being on the cover of a magazine!! There are no words to describe the feeling of seeing a photo of yourself on something that you read all the time. It is for a fun publication called B-Metro, a Birmingham metro mag. When I was first telling them about making Bubble a month or two back, we had no idea that it would turn into a feature story. Even cooler yet, it’s part of the Women’s Power issue amongst some pretty great company. To say that I am extraordinarily thrilled and humbled would be a major understatement. I think this is a huge stepping stone amongst many for Bubble as it starts out on it’s journey into the world. Pretty soon we are going to be able to see our first rough cut, which will be so very exciting. We decided to push back our pick-ups until June 1st, as to better target the shots we need most. More on that soon as it gets closer.
This weekend I look forward to celebrating my mom, and all of the other wonderful moms in my life. I was given a mother that is accepting, encouraging and loving. No doubt I wouldn’t have the confidence and spirit I have without her in my life. I hope she knows how much she is appreciated and adored. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you out there!
Evening at Micah’s Manor
B Metro!
Wine and chocolate with Vero
I came across an amazing article this morning shared by my friend Darrell Hazelrig, about “finding what you love and letting it kill you.” I think you will enjoy it, so I decided to share it in my blog today. In one short read in encapsulates the struggle and overwhelming joy that is chasing a creative dream… or anything you love for that matter. It might be painful at times, but there is nothing more rewarding in the end. Beautiful words.
This past weekend was jam-packed with activity, with the biggest news being that I finally got to see one of my all-time favorite bands play – Band of Horses! It wasn’t under the best circumstances though since it was pouring rain and pretty cold outside. At least it was memorable… I will never forget the sea of ponchos and sinking in the quicksand-like mud as he sang perfectly in front of us. I knew every song, every word. Their music makes me so happy.
The sun came out for a little while the next day, so James and I utilized our Six Flags season passes and had a free-for-all all over the park! All the lines for the rides were super short so we literally went crazy jumping on everything in our path. Rides I hate: Batman & The Ninja ( get a headache every time). Rides I LOVE: Goliath, Mind Bender & Superman. Rides that are still to scary for me to attempt: Acrophobia. I just can’t do it. But I promised James that the next we went I would make myself! There is also a new ride opening up this summer called the SkyScreamer, which looks like a nightmare come to life. It’s basically the traditional swings that you see at every theme park… but 24 STORIES ABOVE THE GROUND. I will keep you posted on if I am brave enough to try it out. Probably not. 
This week one of my goals is to start getting into a regular routine with running again. While I’ve been maintaining a three miler a few times a week, I’ve noticed that I’m just not as regular as I used to be. Which is fine… going through phases is totally normal for me. You can’t stay super jazzed about something 100% of the time. I know running makes me feel good and gives me more energy, so I look forward to being more fit again.
Also on this week’s docket is to write write write. I want to do some character development exercises and freehand a bunch of notes on paper. I need to revisit my script schedule for an August deadline, and work backwards until I have weekly and daily milestones. There are few things I enjoy more than an assignment, so I think this is really good for me!
Band of Horses at the Shaky Knees Festival in the pouring rain. They were wonderful and worth it!
James on the swings at Six Flags Over Georgia
Yesterday I had a minor procedure done which I was scared out of my pants to do. Of course I over researched what was going to happen and knew way too many details of what was to come. While I was waiting in my little room, I was literally shaking in my gown. When the doctor walked in he immediately saw that I was nervous and started asking me funny questions. I laid it out there for him and said that I was afraid I was going to die….kidding of course (maybe), and he proceeded to tell me that I was going to be just fine. The whole thing took 10 minutes tops, and we all laughed at silly things while it was being done. As he was leaving with the nurse at the end, he said that I was one of the most fun patients that he’d had in a long time. That made me feel good, and I was super glad that the procedure was over with. Done & done!! And just FYI, this was an elective thing…nothing to do with my health or safety.
Letting go is a powerful release. It is the ultimate form of trust. We never really own anything… especially people. The only thing that is really ours, is ourselves. I can embrace certain ideas and hopes, and express desires of keeping the things that make me the happiest. I can also love, and hope that love is returned to me. Loving something or someone isn’t owning it, it is giving yourself fully to it. It is the highest expression of happiness, acceptance, fulfillment and future expectations. There are many kinds of souls to love – family, friends, partners, even pets….at varying degrees of depth. If you have nothing or no one to love, then I suggest you go out and find those special people or passions. To love is to live.
Beautiful Birmingham
The Bean
My Memorial Day weekend was especially amazing, there were so many wonderful things to do and a very special person to do them with. I think the highlight for me was going to the river on Sunday with the perfect group, most of which I didn’t know until that very day. We went swimming in a little watering hole about a quarter-mile down from the house, which was clean and still. Our friend Rob grilled out while we swung in hammocks and talked. I don’t know if I’ve nominated a perfect day yet for 2012, but that one ranks pretty high on the list.
Are you ever of the mindset that things can never be perfect, that while some parts of life go better than you could have ever hoped, other parts always seem to suffer to balance it out? I think this is a flawed way of viewing things and the process of living that I am guilty of from time to time. I think the purpose of our lives is to find happiness, and keep it. It lies in our choices, our attitude and our spirit. I read a quote the other day that said we deserve to be happy 100% of the time – fully and proudly. Speaking of quotes, here are a few of my favorite regarding happiness:
“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” – Dalai Lama
“When what we are is what we want to be, that’s happiness.” – Malcolm S. Forbes
“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” – Guillaume Apollinaire
“Happiness is a how, not a what; a talent, not an object.” – Hermann Hesse
“The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase; if you pursue happiness you’ll never find it.” – Charles Percy Snow
“Enjoy everything. Need nothing.” – Neale Donald Walsch
Something I have been trying to put into practice lately is letting myself accept the concept that I can be as happy as I want to be, this very second. Or, that I should enjoy wonderful things that happen to me as if I am 100% deserving of them. That those things are supposed to happen, not the other way around. When I think those thoughts, I can literally feel a little child inside me screaming with happiness. A hidden spirit is set free when it knows that it’s safe and allowed to express itself. Most of us are taught that if things aren’t perfect, then we should be striving to make them so…that the celebration of life can only come once everything in all areas is lined up exactly the way we want them to be. The truth is that’s never going to happen…yet we still have so many reasons to be appreciative of the here and now. I can taste food, I can use my legs to go for a run, I can laugh and smile, I have a body that is healthy and plenty of loved ones around to spend time with. I have a bed to sleep in, a kitty that purrs, and a job that is stable. Right now I can hear birds chirping outside and people talking down the hall about their own weekends. So many things to be happy about.
Whistle Stop Cafe
Salsa Showdown benefiting the Sidewalk Film Festival!
Park time with James (and photo by him…)
First visit at Steel City Pops
Four eyes
Charlie in full form. (photo by Micah)
River Music
Hammock time
My Bonnaroo bracelet came in the mail!!
Happy almost weekend!! I’m not sure I could be any more excited about the days ahead. However, Birmingham does seemingly shut down for the most part on Memorial weekend. There are a few things still happening though, like the Sidewalk Salsa Showdown (you must go!) and the various farmers markets around town. Looks like we will be hitting up the river on Sunday with some friends to celebrate the holiday.
Summertime is always fun in the south. That’s when a lot of the characteristics that we know and love come out in full bloom – grill-outs by the pool/lake/river/ocean, bright sunny days spent in the porch shade, friends by the dozen, farmers markets, festivals, hammock time, etc. What I can’t believe is that it’s almost halfway through the year… it has absolutely flown by. I have started to notice since writing my blog that I seem to love almost every season as they come. Fall brings cooler air and mystery, winter is romantic and festive, while spring brightens your world and brings new beginnings. There is joy to be found at all times of the year.
I’ve decided to make a list of things I love, since I haven’t done so in a while. Today’s will be warm weather themed!!
1. BONNAROO!!!
2. Sun dresses
3. Hats (that fit my head)
4. Lemonade
5. Sweet Tea Vodka
6. Pool time with SPF 1,000,000
7. Visiting the Gulf Coast
8. Peel & eat shrimp
9. Big fat sunglasses
10. Sandals
11. Road trips
12. Hot, sweaty runs
13. Cook-outs
14. Porch time (especially on Jenny Faye’s!)
15. Lightning bugs
16. Long weekends
17. Vacation mentality
Here is a special Friday treat for all of you!
It’s a bean!
Jenny and I like to bring each other to work.
Morning flowers.
Dinner with Brandi.
It’s an afternoon post! The day started off with a 4.5 mile run with Ms. Vero on our special alley route through Forest Park. It’s a very different experience running in alleys as opposed to the roads, almost like being in another city all together. Seeing someone’s backyard is almost like seeing them in their underwear (ha!)…. because it is highly personal and only meant for special company. I almost always notice something new on each run, like a rooster wind compass here and a mini glass greenhouse there. Sometimes you even run into the homeowners themselves walking their dogs in their pj’s. Most of them greet us with a smile and others…. well, aren’t so nice. We ran into a really grumpy lady today that gave us the stink eye for a good 30 feet. It is almost like we are running on private property, but not quite. Our alley route is referred to as the “hilly” run, and it is super easy to get lost in the intricate maze. It’s usually an adventure to find our way through the neighborhoods.
Since I am so late with today’s post, I promise to write more tomorrow very early on. I hope you are having a wonderful, peaceful Thursday.
Today I’ve been given a word assignment: Trust
It’s actually pretty tough to base a post around a word. I don’t think I have any negative associations with the word trust, as I usually have a fairly good sense of who around me is worthy of it. I take that back… you know, about a month ago someone did betray my trust, and I don’t even know if they realize it. It made me very angry with them, and I was taken back by the danger they could have placed me in with the private information they shared. I never confronted that individual about it though, instead I just made a permanent mental note.
To trust is an optimistic action, because along with it comes the risk of losing a belief. It shows that you believe in something or somebody as true until otherwise proven wrong. In that sense, trust and belief are very similar ideas…and maybe even faith. Some of my greatest vulnerabilities and sensitivities were caused by someone I trusted hurting me. A betrayal of trust is nothing short of cruel, like someone smiling while they slap you in the face. When I was young, if someone I trusted told me something about myself – whether good or bad – I believed it. I gave the wrong people and ideas too much power for a long time. It was a hard habit to break…and I don’t think that I learned to trust myself over others until I was in my mid to late twenties. I think that is a huge part of my ambition and drive to do big things, because accomplishing them confirms that I can in fact believe in myself. I can trust that I will finish something that I start. I can trust that I will always try to be the best person I can be. Still some of that is fear driven, but I think I genuinely love the things that I pursue. I’ve started to let go of the notion that I have something to prove to anyone else, that the only things worth doing are the things that bring me joy. It’s also where forgiving myself, as I spoke about yesterday, becomes a very important thing.
When I think about the people who I love the most, it’s because I trust them a great deal. They are genuine. We’ve shown each other an equal amount of respect, transparency and care. Not everyone is worthy of that, so when you find those special souls you keep them forever.
I trust that the future can be anything I want it to be. That most things happen to us for a purpose and our ultimate benefit. I trust that we probably know more than we ever believe that we do. And I trust that I am living the best life that I can with what I’ve been given.
If you would like to suggest a word or a thought for me to do a post on, please send it my way either in person, comment or private message. Thanks for giving me the idea, Jeff. And thanks for the word James!
I love it when a Monday turns out to be special. Last night after work I went for a super hot four mile run with Vero…sometimes a good workout can do wonders for how you feel. Afterwards I was high as a kite, happy as a cucumber. We met David for dinner at Silvertron when we finished and relaxed over lots of water and a glass of wine. Later on I went to my dear friend Misty’s apartment, whom I haven’t seen in what feels like ages. We caught up on everything going on in each others lives. It was really nice to spend time with her and her fiancé Deke.
I woke up several times last night from the storms that passed through. I turned off my air unit at some point so I could just listen to the thunder rolling outside. There are few things more peaceful than rain in the middle of the night. When I was younger I used to be so afraid of being alone in the dark, to the point of keeping myself up for hours in fear. I was mostly afraid of ghosts and spirits, of not being able to “see” what I could feel all around me. I don’t know if our 100-year-old house was really haunted, but it sure looked and felt like it was. To this day I am still fascinated by the thought of places being haunted, and with the kinds of spirits or energies that hang around a location instead of moving on. If they do get stuck in our earthly existence, then it’s probably not for happy reasons.
When I think of the word forgiveness, it is usually in respect of forgiving other people. Sometimes I give myself a harder time than I deserve, or I dwell on things that I may perceive as being a mistake on my part in the past. I’ve found that if I give myself the freedom of forgiveness as easily as I would to another person, I am able to let it go peacefully. Just the simple phrase – I forgive myself – has tremendous power. Sometimes our biggest bully is in fact ourselves, and I think that can be true for me more often than it should. But on the flip side, I am definitely my biggest cheerleader, too.
The Baby Kitty
Dinner with Vero & David
