Planting Roots

For the Thursday blog project, I choose the topic of: I would have never imagined . . .

For me, this topic is at the heart of things going on in my life.  

As I've probably mentioned many times, moving to the city changed my life in so many positive ways.  What I deemed "the worst decision EVER," turned out to be amazing.  So much so, that I've been longing to put down more permanent roots here.  I'll admit, there is a part of me that still longs to live in the burbs one day; however, I can't see that happening anytime soon.  

Everyone I've told who knows me well has laughed at me.  They all have to mention how I swore up and down and around that I wasn't a city person.  I'm smiled while they give me shit about it because I know it was my stubborn ways that stalled my move to the city in the first place and my skepticism that had me thinking I made a horrible decision once I did make the big leap .  Once the commenting is done, I tell them I'm just as shocked as they are about the decision. 

Also, just the act of "planting roots" is amazing to me.  It's something I never thought I'd do... or at least something I thought would take much longer to do.... but alas, it's here and as scary as it is I'm doing it.  Whenever my skeptical side begins to rear its ugly head I recall how things have worked out over the past two and half years.  Also, it makes me think of all things that could be with just a little time, and a lot of faith.

Now that I've talked about something I would have never imagined, please take a moment to read what my fellow bloggers have to say:

Momarock (Sara)

Merryland Girl (Melissa)

Darwin Shrugged (Denise)

No Need for a Remake

This week, for the Thursday Blog Project Melissa asked us to write about: What are FIVE movies that should never, ever, EVER be re-made?  Talk about why for each of them.

Before I get into what movies are on my list, the reason for all of them is simple - it was perfect the first time.  It goes back to the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Now for my list:

• Grease: Okay, so there was a sequel to this movie that could be seen as a remake.  Though I admit to watching this "sequel" more than once, it doesn't mean it was good or right to make.  Just sayin'... 
• Shawshank Redemption: If you saw this movie then you know why it could never be remade. 
• Dirty Dancing:  This movie will always have a special place in my heart.  I almost had a Dirty Dancing theme for my Bat Mitzvah party (FACT!).  Redoing this movies is so, so wrong... on many, many, many levels!
• Hairspray: Yes, I am aware this movie has already been remade.  If you've seen the remake you will understand why it shouldn't have been. That is all I have to say about this matter.
• Funny Girl, The Way We Were, Yentl and The Prince of Tides:  Okay, okay, okay... I realized I just name four movies.  Sue me!  I like Barbara Streisand movies.  Anyhow, it would be a sad day if any of these movies were remade.

On a side note, I found this list of movies that were actually remakes of other movies.  It was an interesting read.

Now that I've shared the five movies I think shouldn't be remade, please take a moment to read my fellow bloggers lists:

Momarock (Sara)

Merryland Girl (Melissa)

Darwin Shrugged (Denise)

Back In The Saddle

This summer, the Thursday Blog Project took a bit of a hiatus.  Considering I hadn't written on a regular basis in quite a while I figure that those that read this blog would have assumed I was on some sort of hiatus in general.  All that said, I'm "back in the saddle," and so is the Thursday Blog Project.

For the Thursday Blog Project, Sara wants us to share what we've been up to while we were on break.

I'd like to say my personal blogging hiatus was uber exciting, but I can't really say that.  Life in general got busy and thus I stopped having the time to blog.  

As for the summer hiatus, the thing I did the most this summer was take care of myself.  As I wrote about a few months ago, I was injured.  As with any injury, the recovery process takes time.  My situation wasn't an exception.  With that in mind, it was kind of a miracle.  Or at least that is how my doctor's made me feel.  When I saw them in August they were amazed by how well I was doing.  Truth be told, I was amazed how well I was doing.  So well, a mere 3 months later and I had forgotten how miserable I was when everything began.  I had forgotten the pain.  I had forgotten how I feared I'd never run again, even though every time I run now I am reminded that I have to build up again to where I was when this all started.  

Okay, so I say all I did all summer was recovering from my injury, but that isn't the ONLY thing I did... and I'm not talking about working.  (Isn't that a given?)  Once I was able to move comfortably again, I was out and about as much as I could be.  Taking long walks became the new running.  I also took time to do things I hadn't had time for because I was running.  This included learning to read Hebrew.  Learning to read Hebrew is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but knew it would be a commitment to do so.  Thankfully, an affordable program came along just at the right time.  In a mere 5 weeks I learned how to read Hebrew - believe it or not.  I'm not a speed reader by any mean, but I can read Hebrew now and am progressing daily.  It feels good to do so.  Over the years, I've been praying in English, and though even observant people do this I've always felt compelled to learn Hebrew.  My learning hasn't stopped.  I'm planning on moving forward with learning this language by enrolling in another class.  

The most important thing I did over the past months is spend more time with those I love and care about the most in this world.  Spending time with friends and family was great.  In July I got to see my BFF and her family which was priceless! Under unfortunate circumstance I got to see my BFF a second time later in the summer.  It was bittersweet.  I was thankful for the time, but wish it was better circumstance which brought us together.  I can say, I'm lucky because I get to see her a third time this year.... we just need to determine the exact date.  I also got to spend time with my great nephew and great niece (a.k.a. - my birthday twin as of this past November).

Another important thing that happened this summer was that I got to figure out what I wanted next in my life.  It's so easy to live life on autopilot, but I don't like living that way.  The fact that I had to slow life down, a lot, this summer gave me time to plot and plan my next moves.  Though I'm very nervous about what I see as being next, I'm excited as well.  Stay tuned for more on that stuff!

ALSO, this summer I returned to knitting.  It started when I went to a free class at Stitches Midwest in early August and shopping at the market a few days later.  After that I started making mitered squares again... if you have been reading my blog for an extended period of time you know where I am heading with this.  Though I swore I would never make another sock yarn blankie, it turns out I was wrong.  I decided to make one as a Bat Mitzvah gift for my youngest niece.  

Sure it would have been nice to go on a trip or train for another marathon, but I can do those things in the future.

Now that I've talked about how I spent my summer blogging hiatus, please see how my fellow bloggers spent theirs:

Momarock (Sara)

Merryland Girl (Melissa)

Darwin Shrugged (Denise)