Instagramming

Friends, I told you a couple of weeks ago that my work "made" me get an iPhone a couple of weeks ago. I was dreading it. I don't like poking my fingers when typing emails or anything. But oh Lord, am I obsessed with the iPhone. Not only because of the fact that I was able to get a much better (i.e., cuter) case than I had for my blackberry, but also because (among other reasons) I was able to join the world of Instagram! My first Instagram picture is the following:  

Heavy processes, I know, But I'm NEW!!

Instagram is just so easy.  Not that blogging isn't easy. Blogging just makes when feel bad when I post crap posts like this and don't reveal to you all the deep, enlightening thoughts I have that I want to share. But with Instagram, I post the crap picture above with my shallow crap thoughts next to it and I feel that I participated and contributed in a very meaningful and satisfying way.  (Satisfying to you, me, her, him, whoever, I don't care.)  Crap can be satisfying when done in the right context, no? 

So anyhow... if you are interested, you can find me at @lovelinessoflife.  (Did I even say that right? "at @"?) I made my account private. Its me, not you, so please don't be offended.  I may change my mind at some point on the privacy issue, but not right now. And I would love to follow YOUR instagram pictures too. Unless you just post advertisement crap that I see on most bloggers' Twitter accounts. (That is crap done in a less than satisfying context. Am I alone on this thought?) But I don't think Instagram is conducted that way.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

December Mornings

Hello to anyone still hanging around. It seems that all my December mornings have graced me with sunrises mixed with cool haze that seem so heavenly I half expect angles to walk (fly?) out of the clouds. Quite a nice contrast to the overly warm November we had here. Now, if only the reasons I've been up early were similarly peaceful. (Intensive trial prep anyone?) Alas, not all in my life has been hectic. Namely, my mom moved back to town just three days ago! Hooray! And it's Christmas/ holiday time! And best of all, I'm getting my hair done today. Thank God. Lastly, I'm blogging this from my new iPhone. (Sorry if its so messed up.) And really lastly, I miss you all and I will be back more regularly soon.

Southern California November

Here's a confession: I will never live anywhere other than Orange County, California, if for no other reason than that the weather is so beautiful most every day of the year. Where else can you spend half of the work day before Thanksgiving eating lunch at the beach?

The Beachcomber restaurant in Crystal Cove is a new favorite sport. We almost ordered 30 crab cakes.

I woke up early on Black Friday, but only because I was well-rested and not because I was out doing any insane early shopping. (FYI: Early equals 9am for me as of late.) I headed down to the beach to take advantage of a mega discount on juice cleanses. The beach was so crisp and cool that morning with the perfect amount of morning fog.  

I wanted to walk up and down PCH because it was so beautiful out, but I was by myself. And the juices were heavy.

But, when I headed back to my house just a few miles inland, the nice little microclimate I enjoy (but admittedly sometimes melodramatically hate) in my community was a bright, sunny 83 degrees. So what else would a girl do but collect her thoughts, bathing suit, juices, magazines and brand new ipod that her husband got her for her birthday and walk on over to the community pool? Ray Charles and the Rolling Stones were my music of choice... so fitting, I felt, for a November pool day.

I'd like the juice cleanse to be a magic potion that thins my thighs automatically. 

Sean's 10-year old cousin Mary, who was a flower girl in my wedding and with whom I exchange text messages, told me that she woke up to "so much snow" on Saturday morning. I can't tell by the context of the text message whether she's excited about it or not. That's one of the reasons text messages, and emails for that matter, suck in general.  She lives in Pittsburgh. I'm honestly jealous of the snow. But only a little.  

I'm curious to know where you live and what your November weather has been like. I hope you are enjoying it, whatever it is, as much as I am enjoying my microclimate!

(One last confession: "microclimate" is a word I just learned last Friday from Dallas Raines, my local weather man.)  

In Glory...

Early last week, my mom told me that a little girl we know through church was "preparing for heaven." Remarkably, those are the little girl's own words. She has never been afraid of her impending death since being diagnosed with a brain tumor just over a year ago because she was excited to "finally be going home." 

Trinity, that faithful little girl, passed away last night. I can't say that I have any idea how it would feel to be facing the end of your life here on earth.  But I do believe in heaven and I believe Trinity is there now, dancing amongst the other angels who I also believe are in heaven with her.  And, afterall, the Bible implies that all children go to heaven.  (See, Mark 10:14, amongst other places.) My own ability to be sure of what I hope for, and certain of what I do not see, lessens the resounding sadness I feel for the littles I have known and lost only a little, but enough that I can muster a smile in my heart when I picture Trinity now with the happy smile her tumor had taken away.  I'd like to say I will have the grace, peace and glory Trinity demonstrated during her final days. I am likely praying for such strength in church right now as you read this post. Not just because I feel such a prayer is an appropriate prayer but because death is something that bothers me in general. Umm... I know this bothers probably everyone but I worry I am bothered by it more than most, says the girl with anxiety over many things.  In true Lisamarie fashion, I watched the movie, My Life Without Me, last night (after the Notre Dame game, of course) just to ensure I was feeling as sad as possible.  I don't know why I inflict pain on myself like that. FYI: don't watch that movie if you are already sad about anything. And FYI: Its a movie with a very non-religious outlook on death play by, not surprisingly, an athiest actress.

In one last act of earthly inspiration, Trinity was so kind to leave us all a short little note that I encourage you to check out if you are a believer in God or if you are merely intersted in reading the final thoughts of a ten year old girl:  http://prayfortrinity.com/2012/11/24/in-glory/. 

 

So this past week, as I worried about Trinity, I worried less about work and burdensome obligations (which were/are truly overcoming me), and spent a little extra time talking to my mom, laughing with my sister, snuggling with my favorite guy, and being outside.

How do you like to spend your time when you are trying to savor it?

Happy Saturday!

I have survived the worst flu of my life. (I'm certain it was H1N1, bird or swine.) What better way to celebrate a recovery than awaking to a crisp, cool Saturday morning?  I was dying to get outside...so we did.

We only went to the reservoir, but I imagined I was at the beach with my co-worker who sent me the picture above.

My imagination is more often than not good enough for me.

And now I have settled back into my cozy home to start what I hope is not an entire weekend filled with work. But work I must do now. And by work, I mean do the following intermittently: work, watch the ND game (so far so good, they are dominating) (umm... Senior Day... Manti Te'o... yes... I'm emotional), and respond to all the sweet blog comments I received this weekend. Oh how I love the blog community.

And FYI, for anyone who cares... a bit ago I tried to type this post on an iPad. I found it impossible. Is it just me, or are blog posts impossible to type on an iPad?  And either way, this makes me especially worrisome (yes, I am worried) because my work this week announced our server (??) would no longer be supporting blackberries so I will be receiving an iPhone in a week or so. I may die. I don't like pecking to type. I don't understand apple anything.  The only silver lining of all of this..... I just might join instagram.

And that, friends, is my Saturday in a nutshell. Happy Saturday, to you all! What are you up to? Something better than me? Something worse? I hope not. But do tell. I like to compare.

Sick Days - Life as Litigation Attorney

Friends, I'm sick.  Flu and fever sick. I thought I just had a cold on Tuesday but by Wednesday morning I was throwing up before my alarm clock even went off. I have no doubt I got this from my sweet niece, yet I will not deny I have cursed the projectile vomit she gave me to while I babysat her on Monday night.

My sick day arsenal - hot tea, water, Tums and Pepto bismal.

Like my CD player alarm clock? I'm in the market for a new one.

And FYI: I took a couple of pictures of myself, but oh Lord, I looked (still look) horrible. Not for public. At all.

Yesterday I could barely stand myself. Do you know that feeling when you have a 100+ fever and you want to crawl out of your skin? I was cold, so I turned the heater on. Then I was hot, so I opened windows. I crawled down our steep staircase for more water.  No TV was on. No music. No sleep. And yes... I was dramatic. Thank God Sean takes such good care of me. Reason number 548,392 that I love him so much.

Obviously I couldn't go to work yesterday. And I'm still sick today so I am home yet again.

If I was still a college student, I would take a week (maybe two) off without even thinking twice about it.

If I was a mom with little children, I don't know what the heck I would have done yesterday. Call a babysitter, maybe? Put the babies in a playpen for 10 hours? (This is what my mom suggested when I talked to her about it. See.. I stress about scenarios that aren't even applicable to me at this present time.)

As a litigation attorney, I just stress and die a little bit the whole time I am home.  My work load does not just go on pause when I'm dying in my bed.  And, for the most part, no one else can do the work for me. "Hi co-worker, do you mind jumping in to finish off this MSJ opposition while I die of the flu in my bed at home?" Yea... that would never work. And yes, I still have more MSJs to deal with. Three to be exact. All due either next week or the week thereafter.  Plus a mediation brief.  Plus all the other day-to-day general stuff that doesn't even rise to the level worthy of being mentioned but still needing to be filed with the court today, tomorrow, yesterday, nonetheless.  So I've had no choice but work from home today to the best of my flu-ridden abilities. (Taking breaks to lay my head down about every other minute.) And I will be working over the weekend to make up for these lost days of productivity. Not because my firm has some crazy billable hour requirement (thank God), but only because I generally need to work these days to get my stuff timely finished. I may even miss church. Or the church's Thanksgiving dinner Sunday night. That will be the most devastating event to come of this flu.

And with that description of my sick days, who wants to trade lives with me this week? Any takers?

*My pity party ends now. Thanks for reading, if you did.

I Give You My "Best"

Because of various interactions I had in the past 24 hours with multiple individuals, I have developed conflicted feelings over what I believe is massive misuse of the term "best." Last night a bunch of girls absolutely nauseated me with their one-sided conversation about how everything they have or have done is the "best." They have the best doctor, the best hospital (girl is pregnant), best wedding photographer, best wedding venue (other girl is getting married). This came on the heals of a different  back-and-forth discussion I had about my identification of a few of my friendships as "bests." Indeed, I, too, may be seen to overuse (dare I say "misuse") the term "best." After all, I will absolutely say to anyone who will listen that I believe I have the best niece of all time. 

Miss O projectile vomited minutes after this picture.  I know I have vomit on me somewhere because I can still smell it, strongly, as I am typing this post hours after the event. I still love her and think she's the best.

I suppose what has gotten me bothered is the specific connotation of each person's use of the word "best." The girls from last night, I think, were just being nasty. They wanted me to know they had  something that was better than what I had. (I am not an idiot and I pick up on this kind of attitude very quickly.) You know.. nasty girls (and guys) with a superiority complex.  My mom, however, would likely say those girls were insecure.  I think the personality types go hand-in-hand, although I am not a psychologist. Obviously. In any event, I sometimes get defensive to those types of declarations. (Because I have nothing better going on in my life at the moment to just laugh and these comments go. This is a sign my work has slowed down and my personal life is blissfully content. This girl loves a little drama.) Those girls clearly didn't consider my wedding photographer. And seriously, I wouldn't have my temperature taken at the hospital in which this girl is choosing to have her baby. (Oh watch out, don't make me get nasty in return.)

But on the more positive side, there is another person I know who describes every experience as the best. Amazing! Incredible, this person will say.  (At least one person reading this must know who I am talking about.) But these specific declarations makes me smile. Every. Single. Time.  I feel within my bones that this person's declarations of "best!" are an outward expression of joy. Sharing the find, but not imposing the opinion. 

I'm not sure I am making the difference between the two "best" usages as clear as I have it in my mind. But my point is, when I, personally, declare something as "best" or "most amazing" I obviously do not mean this to be a final, world-wide declaration of whatever category it is I am talking about. Just because I have a "best" niece, doesn't mean your niece also isn't a "best." She's just best for me. And anyone who knows of her... but that's getting carried away. And I would never try to be nauseating about my use of the word best. Nor would I try to diminish the value of "best" in my life.  I'm just trying to share my excitement about a treasure I think I have found.  Whether it be restaurants, hotels or friends. All treasures; all "bests" in my life. If I didn't consider them "bests" I would not hold them close in my life. I give only my best (some my disagree, but whatever) and I keep only my best.  I consider all "bests" a best for various reasons - each reason being different - but the "best" remaining of equal significance across each factor in my life. 

And just when I started to realize I had dwelled too much on this topic, (that's what husbands are good for, right?), I learned of some news that snapped me right out of this silly train of thought. (Because honestly, this is a silly topic of conversation.)        

A man that I know was received into God's kingdom today.  He was one of the best men I had met in my life. 

It was time to hang these crosses up today. The larger one a 30th birthday present from one of the best friends a girl could ever hope for. The other a wedding gift from one of the best families in my and Sean's life. 

I will not disclose this man's name for the sake of privacy and respect for his family. I only spent time with him for one weekend, but I know he was an amazing family man who raised beautiful and kind children. He gave his best until he had nothing left to give on this Earth.  What more could you hope for in your life? What more can be expected of a person? He truly was one of the best. And he will be missed. But his life's significance will not be lost upon those he leaves behind. 

And with this, friends, I will simply leave you with the thought that I truly hope you all have many "bests" in your life.  

**As a disclaimer... this post does not represent the entirety of my thoughts on this subject. This post was written in a matter of a few minutes without much thought on the selection of the words I have used. This post likely has not even been proofread.  I could have more to say on the subject and may even deviate a bit in my thoughts later on if warranted. But I never mean to offend anyone and only am trying to share, inspire and cause a laugh. But indeed, this is the general gist of what I am feeling at this exact moment. **