Blue Lollipop Road

September 7, 2009 In Uncategorized

Gettin’ Cozy With Cockroaches

Even though it’s kind of a pain to move, you have to admit it’s a little bit exciting thinking about getting new space, decorating and all that fun stuff. You might start daydreaming of painting and and refurbishing that old table or polishing up that family heirloom and where you might put it. 

Until you actually start your apartment hunt, and reality strikes. (Even if you’re looking in nice neighborhoods and fine with spending some money on a place.)
Is there someone out there who wants to follow me with a video camera? We could put together quite a reality show about encounters with the landlords (if that’s what you want to call them) who seem to be living on the edge of Crazyville. We could feature the beautiful places (can you sense any sarcasm here?) they are actually trying to get people to pay to live in. Here are some of my favorites. The ones that:
*Smell so bad when you walk in, you gag
*Have stains. Yes- stains. On carpets and walls and doors and…
*With dead roaches on the floors 
*You have to kick/step over garbage to make it through the hallway
*Advertise “all inclusive utilities” and in fact there are no utilities included
I especially love the trick words/terms like “cozy cottage”, “cute bungalow” or “unique living situation.” Yeah, it’s unique alright. I’ll take the one with the rats please. Who do I make the check out to?
No thanks.
I knew my idea of living in an RV long ago was a good one. Even in the mess of things like this I still have fun. Let the stories pile on…
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September 5, 2009 In Uncategorized

Freedom

I met a guy when I was working yesterday who asked me how long I had been around because he’d never seen me before and that he’d been working out of the country for a while. I was busy and running around so even though I would’ve typically taken lots of time to chat him up, I tried not to be rude, but just quickly complete our transaction and move onto my next task. 

Until I asked him where he’d been out of the country working. 
He told me; “I’m a pilot for the Marine Corps and I was in Iraq for a while.”
At that point I went from scurrying and moving on quickly, to stopping dead in my tracks and staring at him. It was as if a punch of reality hit me in the gut. After about 10 solid seconds I managed to get out a; “Thank you. I’m glad you’re back safe.” to which he replied; “Yeah. Me too.”
That was it and then I drove away. 
I thought I would share this simple transaction story because as I drove away yesterday all I could think of was huh, once again there I was busy in life and running around and doing all the daily stuff. The worries, the work the this and that and sometimes losing sight of/not thinking of why I am free to do and be who and what I want and the people that make that happen. I was very thankful for my reality punch in the gut interaction yesterday because it made me feel lucky. Thought this story might make at least one person out there stop for a second in their day and be thankful for people like the nice Marine and feel lucky too. Also thought it was a bit ironic that at the beginning of the summer during Memorial day weekend I had a pretty amazing interaction with some military folks. Here now it’s labor day and again. I’m able go off, play in the sun and bbq it up like gazillions of other people around the country this weekend because of all the heros that fight for our freedom to do so.
Happy Labor Day weekend and thank you to all who fight for all of us to have it.
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September 5, 2009 In Uncategorized

Stop: Hammock Time

This is my hammock. Some friends gave it to me for my birthday probably because I talked about wanting one for so long and nice people pay attention.

Thanks girls.
Hammocks are awesome. I am loving it. You guys are sweet and generous. Between this and a double layer brownie cake- you have won my heart forever. I am such an easy sell…
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September 3, 2009 In Uncategorized

Alice In Wonderland

I just liked his word of the day for some reason so thought I’d share:

carom KAIR-uhm, noun:

1. A rebound following a collision; a glancing off.
2. A shot in billiards in which the cue ball successively strikes two other balls on the table.
3. To strike and rebound; to glance.
4. To make a carom.
5. To make (an object) bounce off something; to cause to carom.

Also took a picture of this spider today. The scariest and most GARGANTUAN spider I have ever seen live and “wild.” This thing was like 5 colors and almost as big as a frisbee. Here’s the best shot I could get of it. Ack!
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September 2, 2009 In Uncategorized

Announcing Greater Good Productions

I know I have had a lot of excuses this summer as to why my posts have been sometimes sporadic and often not as perfect as I’d like them to be- but here’s why! I’ve been working my little tail off! (Yeah, yeah- there has been beaching, boating and traveling too.) 
We have officially launched as of last week:
Some of you know about us already, some don’t. Maybe you got our press release, caught word in the news or on the streets, either way- there you have it. There’s my excuse for all my previous; “More soon- promise!” and “I have been a busy girl!”
Of course I will keep up here on Blue Lollipop Road too writing about all my adventures, the interesting people and stuff I come across and all other randomness that I love. There are plans for this too. In the meantime though, how cool is it that I can be a partner in a company, work with amazing people, coordinate parties and events for a living and do great things for my community?! 
Pretty awesome. 
I absolutely love that I am/will be one of those people that sits around with good friends/family and business partners with a glass of wine on a patio and has the “Man- remember when we were so poor I had to live with that crazy roommate? Remember that day we raced to the bank because there was only 42 cents left in your bank account and we were all scraping to pitch in 5 bucks so you wouldn’t bounce a check? Can you believe that we are sitting here now like this (looking around at whatever is the location or stuff we have earned) after working our asses off, dealing with (insert situation/person here) and having to (insert situation here)- just to make ends meet to do what we love during those years?”
Reflection, appreciation and all the hard lessons; these are the things that make great people, great stories and all the difference. I am so grateful for every once of blood, ever bead of sweat and all the buckets of tears.
This is likely by no means the end of the road of careers I will have for the rest of my life, or the best or most perfect job ever. There’s no such thing. It is however, what I feel like is the reward for a LOT of years of hard work, frustration, screwing up, understanding what I’m good at and then taking all of that and making something from it. This is where I thank all the people who have loved me through all that confusion and screwing up and stuck by my side always telling me they believed in me and it didn’t matter what I did for a living because I was supporting myself and I wasn’t “supposed” to do anything but what I want to do. To others who have looked at me funny, rolled their eyes, lectured me, asked me “Di, when the hell are you going to settle down and grow up?” or told me to “be realistic”; Really? Can you say see my tag line above? 
I’m not on vacation. I live here.
I choose to make my life like most peoples vacations; being happy, looking for adventure, spending quality time with people that I love and doing things that I love. Add in some really hard work and I think I’ve found my recipe for success. This is me. Grown up, settled and realistic. The UPS man tried delivered the box I was supposed to live my life in when I was born and fortunately my mother told him; “Sorry sir, you must be at the wrong house- that’s not meant for my daughter!”
Thanks Mom! Look what I’ve done!
I’m proud to be a part in Greater Good Productions and do work that really means something to me. I’m thrilled to be partners with Katie and Steve. Thanks Katie and Steve! It’s ON!
Won’t you join us for some fun? How you ask? Check this out.
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September 1, 2009 In Uncategorized

I LOVERMONT

When I found out today was the day that gay couples could tie the knot legally in Vermont, I had planned on writing about it. (Ironically enough the day after I posted about Harvey Milk. It hadn’t even dawned on me.) There’s something else that makes this deal even sweeter. My home state liberal and delicious ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s has done this in support of the passed law.
I am sitting here just tickled. I mean elated. Not only can my brother and lots of other people I love- like this big (Imagine HUGE arms out) actually marry someone they love of the same-sex now and have equal rights, but how totally incredible that such enormously-followed and wildly successful companies such as B & J’s continue to support causes for social justice and equality like this gay marriage law?
I think it’s perfectly appropriate to say here…Ben & Jerry’s- you are friggin’ awesome!!!
Of course there are always these people too- who just need to get a friggin’ life. Hey protesters!- Maybe if you ate a bite of Hubby Hubby you’d stop hating yourselves and everyone else so much. Perhaps then you could actually start worrying about real problems and issues. Come on. Try it. Peanut butter-cookie-dough-fudge-pretzely goodness? Go ahead and tell me you don’t want to lick every last ounce out of that Hubby Hubby pint.
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Even ignorant jerks like delicious gay ice cream. You are so busted.
Oh if you could see the mischievous little smile on my face.
Today, Tuesday September 1st, 2009. 
Giant steps. 
Thank you Vermont.
Thank you for making me proud to be from you and helping to make so many people who are normal and beautiful humans feel like actually really are.
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August 30, 2009 In Uncategorized

Good Dog

I was recently reading an article about some dogs who were able to detect cancer from specimen boxes that contain human breath samples. California’s Pine Street Foundation, that studies integrative medicine has been exploring whether dogs can reliably detect the disease. 

The dogs used in this study haven’t been bred to work in labs, but are regular family pets who’s owners volunteer them one or two days a week. Here is some video. 
Pretty amazing. Talk about giving a whole new meaning to mans best friend!
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