I ran in 5k for the first time in a LOOOOONNNNG time. I actually ran a bit longer than a 5k--3.25 miles--and my time was 36:07. When I pace it out, each mile I ran was about 11:06; which is awesome! I really did not know if I would make it, but running with a friend and the fact that I KNEW I could do it, got me through. I'm not even worried about the 5k I have this weekend anymore.
This time last year, I could not even run one lap around the track. It's crazy to think that I would be out of breath before even 1/4 of a mile, and here I am running 3.25 miles straight. I know I could run more if I put my mind to it. I've grown leaps and bounds and am SOOOOO proud of myself. In September, I ran my first 5k--the IronGirl. This September, I will run my first 10k at the same event. Easy peasy right?
A coworker came into my office when I was looking for (fashionable) bags to wear when I'm riding my bike, and he was like "what are you trying to do get super fit and hard?" And I joked with him "Yea, I'm going to have a rock hard body." But I admitted after that that's not what I want. I want to be soft, and I think a better descriptor is curvy. I want to be shapely, and womanly, and warm. I want my kids to be able to wrap their arms around me and have a bit of a cushion to lay their heads on. I don't want to be overweight, and I don't want to be flabby, but I definitely want to be soft. Is that weird? I dunno what that weight is, exactly, but I think I'll know it when I see it :)
Man oh man, I am beat. I think I'm going to try yoga for the next two days before my run so I can be flexible and ready to kick but. Okie dokie, I'm gonna post my 30 for 30 pictures and then head to bed. Thank God the week is halfway over!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Plans For The Day
The sun is out! The sun is out! I'm so happy to see sunshine. This means, a smoothie for breakfast, biking to work, something light and delicious for lunch, foursquare after lunch w the coworkers, kiddos being able to run their energy out in the courtyard, and a run after work. It also means warmth on my face, yummy melting popsicles, water balloons, beaches, swimming, frisbee, bbqs, camping--basically the start of SUMMER! Can you tell I'm excited for the sun? Gotta make the most of it, it appears so intermittently around these parts.
And with those thoughts, I'm going to listen to Matt & Kim's 'Daylight' and dance around while I get ready :)
And with those thoughts, I'm going to listen to Matt & Kim's 'Daylight' and dance around while I get ready :)
we cut the legs off of our pants
threw our shoes into the ocean
sit back and wave through the daylight
sit back and wave through the daylight
threw our shoes into the ocean
sit back and wave through the daylight
sit back and wave through the daylight
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Sigh No More
Today was a rough day. Well, it started out fine. I biked to work, ate a ton of shrimp and fruits and veggies for lunch, beat my coworkers in Bump from the 3 pointer line (!!!), and just laughed a lot. Then I got hurt playing basketball, we were short staffed and the kids were INSANE, and then there was some kind of weird work drama between two of the staff and I'm still not sure what it was about. It just pretty much went downhill after the basketball incident. I just realized also that I'm probably not going to be able to do yoga because of whatever happened to my thumb. Bleh.
There's nothing like music to bring me back around, to soften my bitter little heart, and to remind me that love and forgiveness are bigger than all the petty bullshit that happens.
"Love it will not betray you, dismay, or enslave you--it will set you free...be more like the man you were meant to be. There is a a design, an alignment, a cry, of my heart to see, the beauty of love--as it was made to be." Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More
This is my all time favorite M&S song. That line in itself just makes it for me, and I love the builidup and simplicity of it all. Remembering love, how I'm supposed to love, and what it means to love brings so much freedom to my life. Even in this moment when I'm just emotional over small things, love loosens up the hardness in my heart and helps me to let go. It helps me to stop obsessing, to stop picking over the details over how so and so wronged me, how opportunities were lost, and it just leaves me with peace.
I want to be a person who is shaped and designed by Love. That second line, where it says there is 'a cry of my heart to see, the beauty of love as it was made to be' just hits me straight in the gut and makes me weep and hope for the day when Love will triumph. I want that today, everyday. I want it now, and I know that we can bring Love into the world through our actions and who we are as people, but sometimes it just seems like the world is so...hopeless. That people are so full of hate, anger, malice and jealousy, and that love is forgotten, thrown to the wayside. Sometimes I forget and I am so wrapped up in myself.
I don't know what else to say, except that I'm glad that I have this moment and this day to say "I will love better." I can show love and be love to those around me, and that's all I can do. That's what I was designed to do right? Right. And I'm so thankful there are people out there who feel the same way. Alrighty, I'm going to get my tired mind and body to bed. After a little more Mumford of course ;)
There's nothing like music to bring me back around, to soften my bitter little heart, and to remind me that love and forgiveness are bigger than all the petty bullshit that happens.
"Love it will not betray you, dismay, or enslave you--it will set you free...be more like the man you were meant to be. There is a a design, an alignment, a cry, of my heart to see, the beauty of love--as it was made to be." Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More
This is my all time favorite M&S song. That line in itself just makes it for me, and I love the builidup and simplicity of it all. Remembering love, how I'm supposed to love, and what it means to love brings so much freedom to my life. Even in this moment when I'm just emotional over small things, love loosens up the hardness in my heart and helps me to let go. It helps me to stop obsessing, to stop picking over the details over how so and so wronged me, how opportunities were lost, and it just leaves me with peace.
I want to be a person who is shaped and designed by Love. That second line, where it says there is 'a cry of my heart to see, the beauty of love as it was made to be' just hits me straight in the gut and makes me weep and hope for the day when Love will triumph. I want that today, everyday. I want it now, and I know that we can bring Love into the world through our actions and who we are as people, but sometimes it just seems like the world is so...hopeless. That people are so full of hate, anger, malice and jealousy, and that love is forgotten, thrown to the wayside. Sometimes I forget and I am so wrapped up in myself.
I don't know what else to say, except that I'm glad that I have this moment and this day to say "I will love better." I can show love and be love to those around me, and that's all I can do. That's what I was designed to do right? Right. And I'm so thankful there are people out there who feel the same way. Alrighty, I'm going to get my tired mind and body to bed. After a little more Mumford of course ;)
Monday, May 2, 2011
Inside Play
It's raining today. How can it be so beautifully clear and warm one day and then pouring rain the next day. It's like the weather is taunting me. I'm starting to take it personally.
Well, we all know that I am not going to be riding my bike in the pouring rain, so it looks like a yoga day for me. I've tried a couple of yoga videos--some basic ones at my mum's house--but I really, really love Bob's Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga...or BBLWLY...or whenever I refer to doing "my yoga" that's what you can imagine. It has pretty much all of the perks of yoga, you feel stretched, relaxed, and strong, but you're working your butt of by holding yourself in poses for a good length of time. For the beginning it's definitely a workout, but after doing it for a couple of months, you find yourself getting stronger and fitter.
I especially love that there's 3 levels: basic, core, and weights. I can choose what I want to do based on how strenuous of a workout I want, and let me tell you, the weighted section is...strenuous! I love Bob's calm encouragement, and you can tell he's enjoying what he's doing. Don't get me wrong, I love Jillian's in your face, jokester, intense methods as well, but Bob's style is just suited for yoga.
I have my Settlers group tonight. I'm pretty stoked, although I haven't won a game in awhile :-/ Ok, I gotta get ready for work AND pack my lunch.
Well, we all know that I am not going to be riding my bike in the pouring rain, so it looks like a yoga day for me. I've tried a couple of yoga videos--some basic ones at my mum's house--but I really, really love Bob's Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga...or BBLWLY...or whenever I refer to doing "my yoga" that's what you can imagine. It has pretty much all of the perks of yoga, you feel stretched, relaxed, and strong, but you're working your butt of by holding yourself in poses for a good length of time. For the beginning it's definitely a workout, but after doing it for a couple of months, you find yourself getting stronger and fitter.
I especially love that there's 3 levels: basic, core, and weights. I can choose what I want to do based on how strenuous of a workout I want, and let me tell you, the weighted section is...strenuous! I love Bob's calm encouragement, and you can tell he's enjoying what he's doing. Don't get me wrong, I love Jillian's in your face, jokester, intense methods as well, but Bob's style is just suited for yoga.
I have my Settlers group tonight. I'm pretty stoked, although I haven't won a game in awhile :-/ Ok, I gotta get ready for work AND pack my lunch.
Don't Stop Get It Get It!
I don't know why I love this phrase so much. I use it often. Way too often. It does, however pertain to this post. May 1st was my unofficial first day of refocusing my life back on weight loss and healthier living. Don't get me wrong--every day of my life I think about the choices that I'm making and how I can be better. But, I've been on a kind of hiatus from actively pursuing weight loss. It's been great, but as I'm bicycling and feeling stronger and falling in love with my body as it is, I'm also desiring more. I want to be more fit, I want to run farther, and I want to eat better.
So, I'm going for it. Today I biked 15 miles and challenged myself by biking up harder, bigger hills. And I did it. I got myself up those hills without stopping and I am proud. It reminds me of how powerful I felt when I took control and actively pursued a healthier, fitter lifestyle. I have a few, simple, straightforward goals.
1) Exercise 5 days out of the week.
--This will mostly consist of running and cycling for cardio and yoga for lengthening and strength. On rainy days, I will do some other cardio video at home.
2) Drink water.
--Copious amounts of water. Not diet coke. Water. Not 8 ounces. at least 80.
3) Track my calories
--Everything that I put in my mouth will be tracked on my trusty spark people page. It's a great way to see what I'm putting in my body, and it encourages me to think twice about those sugary sweets I'm so fond of :)
4) Eat more fruits and veggies.
--I can be really terrible about getting all of my fruits and veggies in. I want to eat at least 2 pieces of fruit and 1 serving of veggies per day. I'm not sure if that's the appropriate amount, but it's a start.
5) Curb my sugar addiction
--I love candy. I also love cake, pie, cookies, fruit snacks, brownies ala mode, ice cream. I love sugar. I was most successful and feel the BEST when I let myself have these things occasionally vs. everyday.
6) Blog daily.
--Blogging keeps me accountable. That's pretty much it. I also enjoy writing (most of the time).
7) Continue with my 5k for every month, and run the IronGirl 10k in September
--Run for your rights 5k, May 7th
--Susan G. Komen for the Cure 5k, June 5th (make up for no 5k in April :-/)
--Fremont 5k June 10th
--See Jane Run 5k, July 17th
--Run 4 Thier Lives 5k, Aug 21st
--IronGirl 10k, Sept 11th
Don't stop, get it get it!
So, I'm going for it. Today I biked 15 miles and challenged myself by biking up harder, bigger hills. And I did it. I got myself up those hills without stopping and I am proud. It reminds me of how powerful I felt when I took control and actively pursued a healthier, fitter lifestyle. I have a few, simple, straightforward goals.
1) Exercise 5 days out of the week.
--This will mostly consist of running and cycling for cardio and yoga for lengthening and strength. On rainy days, I will do some other cardio video at home.
2) Drink water.
--Copious amounts of water. Not diet coke. Water. Not 8 ounces. at least 80.
3) Track my calories
--Everything that I put in my mouth will be tracked on my trusty spark people page. It's a great way to see what I'm putting in my body, and it encourages me to think twice about those sugary sweets I'm so fond of :)
4) Eat more fruits and veggies.
--I can be really terrible about getting all of my fruits and veggies in. I want to eat at least 2 pieces of fruit and 1 serving of veggies per day. I'm not sure if that's the appropriate amount, but it's a start.
5) Curb my sugar addiction
--I love candy. I also love cake, pie, cookies, fruit snacks, brownies ala mode, ice cream. I love sugar. I was most successful and feel the BEST when I let myself have these things occasionally vs. everyday.
6) Blog daily.
--Blogging keeps me accountable. That's pretty much it. I also enjoy writing (most of the time).
7) Continue with my 5k for every month, and run the IronGirl 10k in September
--Run for your rights 5k, May 7th
--Susan G. Komen for the Cure 5k, June 5th (make up for no 5k in April :-/)
--Fremont 5k June 10th
--See Jane Run 5k, July 17th
--Run 4 Thier Lives 5k, Aug 21st
--IronGirl 10k, Sept 11th
Don't stop, get it get it!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Looking Back
As I was looking something up, I ran across this blog post. I wrote it almost 4 years ago. It made me smile, and it reminded me of the role that music has played in my life as far as faith. It reminded me how I seemed to be attuned to everything back then, so passionate, and nowadays it seems like that passion has waned a bit. And maybe not waned, but changed, evolved into something different. I love the person I was when I wrote this. I love the person I am today.
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Thursday May 31, 2007
"Clark Gable"
Some of you guys have been reading my blog since I started it. It's amazing to me that I've been writing on this thing for 2 plus years. A part of my life that has been consistent...not super consistent, but a place I could always come to. In my beginning writing stages there was this song called Clark Gable by Postal Service that really caught my attention. Well, pretty much the chorus caught my attention. It goes like this:
"I want so badly to believe that there is truth, and love is real. And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd."
The absurd extent. The title of my blog. That's were I got it from. I thought that chorus was beautiful and expressed exactly what I wanted in life. I was at a point where I was looking for truth. I was looking for something real outside of what everyone was telling me was real. I was looking for something more, something better than I had previously experienced.
I feel that I am at the point of finally beginning to realize what I want and who I am. I find that before, it was so easy to point the finger at others. Now it's so apparent that I need to point the finger at myself most of the time. I guess I'm learning that I had been part of the problem all along...and that I had to readjust MY thinking before I was ever going to make real change in people's lives. I could SAY all I wanted, but until I truly changed, my world would never change.
So, back to Clark Gable. I actually listened to the song. I mean, really listened. And I found that that line is part of the bigger picture of a song that I didn't even realize was pretty amazing and...surprisingly SUPER relevant to what I was going through then. Here's the song...the arrangement is my doing....
Clark Gable, The Postal Service
I was waiting for a cross-town train in the london underground when it struck me:
That I've been waiting since birth to find a love that would look and sound like a movie.
So I changed my plans, I rented a camera and a van and then I called you--
"I need you to pretend that we are in love again." And you agreed to.
I want so badly to believe that "there is truth, that love is real"
And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd.
I greased the lens and framed the shot using a friend as my stand-in.
The script it called for rain but it was clear that day so we faked it.
The marker snapped and I yelled "quiet on the set" and then called "action!"
I kissed you in a style Clark Gable would have admired--I thought it classic
I want so badly to believe that "there is truth, that love is real"
And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd
I know you're wise beyond your years, but do you ever get the feel,
that your perfect verse is just a lie you tell yourself to help you get by?
______________________________________________________
I was listening to this song on Sunday and I was like "Oh. oh, oh, oh." I got it. For so long, this guy was looking for love. He was looking for this perfect love. You know, the kind that they display in movies. The kind of love that happens like *that* You know, you meet someone, two dates later, you're together, you fall in love, and it's happily ever after. I think the happily ever after part is a big part of the "love" that we are looking for.
So, he goes to "make" this love. He find this girl that he used to love, and he makes this movie. This movie that is perfectly set up. This movie that had perfect weather...but "the script had called for rain" so they made it rain instead. They 'faked it.' I love the line that says "I kissed you in a style Clark Gable would have admired...I thought it classic." Suggesting that even that kiss...was fake.
Everything that we have been taught about love in the movies and books is...let's just say it...fake. We have been waiting and looking for this storybook romance. We have been looking for these men and women who "complete" us. We're looking, like Cinderella, for someone to rescue us from the mess that is our lives. Isn't this the theme of most Disney-esque movies? There's the main character, the main character's life is crappy, incomplete, whatever. They get into trouble, and then there's this person who swoops in and saves them from that trouble.
I know so many people who are waiting for a man or woman to fix their lives. To make it better than it is. I know so many people who WAIT for someone who is worthwhile enough for them to change. Change is inspired by the desire to impress that person...not necessarily improve yourself. And when that person doesn't "come through" all those changes disappear and you go back to the person you are.
Love...life...isn't a fairytale. We can't wait for somebody who will make us want to better. We have to choose to be better. We have to want to be better.
I know that there is truth. I know that love is real. But it's NOT what we've thought it was. Love is tears, heartbreak, loneliness, joy, peace, understanding, giving, taking...it's all those things. It's more than looks or a sexual connection. It's...ah I can't even describe it. But I know it's amazing. I know it's out there...I know I'm capable of it.
Of course, I can think of how this song can be an analogy of my life as a Christian. One day, it feels as if I woke up and realized that Christ (love) was exactly NOT who I thought him to be. And I had worked so hard to make him into this thing...and once I finally realized that what I was striving for wasn't real...I was able to find real love...real truth. The real Jesus.
But sometimes it's so much easier to go along with "the story." It's so much easier to go along with the "fakeness" because reality is hard. It's dirty and it comes with a lot of things that we would rather not deal with. It includes real change. I'm finding that living like Jesus is something totally beyond what I can do. But I know it's real. I read his words and I'm blown away by how revolutionary he is. There is truth. Love is real. And he has life in every word to the extent that it's absurd.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thursday May 31, 2007
"Clark Gable"
Some of you guys have been reading my blog since I started it. It's amazing to me that I've been writing on this thing for 2 plus years. A part of my life that has been consistent...not super consistent, but a place I could always come to. In my beginning writing stages there was this song called Clark Gable by Postal Service that really caught my attention. Well, pretty much the chorus caught my attention. It goes like this:
"I want so badly to believe that there is truth, and love is real. And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd."
The absurd extent. The title of my blog. That's were I got it from. I thought that chorus was beautiful and expressed exactly what I wanted in life. I was at a point where I was looking for truth. I was looking for something real outside of what everyone was telling me was real. I was looking for something more, something better than I had previously experienced.
I feel that I am at the point of finally beginning to realize what I want and who I am. I find that before, it was so easy to point the finger at others. Now it's so apparent that I need to point the finger at myself most of the time. I guess I'm learning that I had been part of the problem all along...and that I had to readjust MY thinking before I was ever going to make real change in people's lives. I could SAY all I wanted, but until I truly changed, my world would never change.
So, back to Clark Gable. I actually listened to the song. I mean, really listened. And I found that that line is part of the bigger picture of a song that I didn't even realize was pretty amazing and...surprisingly SUPER relevant to what I was going through then. Here's the song...the arrangement is my doing....
Clark Gable, The Postal Service
I was waiting for a cross-town train in the london underground when it struck me:
That I've been waiting since birth to find a love that would look and sound like a movie.
So I changed my plans, I rented a camera and a van and then I called you--
"I need you to pretend that we are in love again." And you agreed to.
I want so badly to believe that "there is truth, that love is real"
And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd.
I greased the lens and framed the shot using a friend as my stand-in.
The script it called for rain but it was clear that day so we faked it.
The marker snapped and I yelled "quiet on the set" and then called "action!"
I kissed you in a style Clark Gable would have admired--I thought it classic
I want so badly to believe that "there is truth, that love is real"
And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd
I know you're wise beyond your years, but do you ever get the feel,
that your perfect verse is just a lie you tell yourself to help you get by?
______________________________________________________
I was listening to this song on Sunday and I was like "Oh. oh, oh, oh." I got it. For so long, this guy was looking for love. He was looking for this perfect love. You know, the kind that they display in movies. The kind of love that happens like *that* You know, you meet someone, two dates later, you're together, you fall in love, and it's happily ever after. I think the happily ever after part is a big part of the "love" that we are looking for.
So, he goes to "make" this love. He find this girl that he used to love, and he makes this movie. This movie that is perfectly set up. This movie that had perfect weather...but "the script had called for rain" so they made it rain instead. They 'faked it.' I love the line that says "I kissed you in a style Clark Gable would have admired...I thought it classic." Suggesting that even that kiss...was fake.
Everything that we have been taught about love in the movies and books is...let's just say it...fake. We have been waiting and looking for this storybook romance. We have been looking for these men and women who "complete" us. We're looking, like Cinderella, for someone to rescue us from the mess that is our lives. Isn't this the theme of most Disney-esque movies? There's the main character, the main character's life is crappy, incomplete, whatever. They get into trouble, and then there's this person who swoops in and saves them from that trouble.
I know so many people who are waiting for a man or woman to fix their lives. To make it better than it is. I know so many people who WAIT for someone who is worthwhile enough for them to change. Change is inspired by the desire to impress that person...not necessarily improve yourself. And when that person doesn't "come through" all those changes disappear and you go back to the person you are.
Love...life...isn't a fairytale. We can't wait for somebody who will make us want to better. We have to choose to be better. We have to want to be better.
I know that there is truth. I know that love is real. But it's NOT what we've thought it was. Love is tears, heartbreak, loneliness, joy, peace, understanding, giving, taking...it's all those things. It's more than looks or a sexual connection. It's...ah I can't even describe it. But I know it's amazing. I know it's out there...I know I'm capable of it.
Of course, I can think of how this song can be an analogy of my life as a Christian. One day, it feels as if I woke up and realized that Christ (love) was exactly NOT who I thought him to be. And I had worked so hard to make him into this thing...and once I finally realized that what I was striving for wasn't real...I was able to find real love...real truth. The real Jesus.
But sometimes it's so much easier to go along with "the story." It's so much easier to go along with the "fakeness" because reality is hard. It's dirty and it comes with a lot of things that we would rather not deal with. It includes real change. I'm finding that living like Jesus is something totally beyond what I can do. But I know it's real. I read his words and I'm blown away by how revolutionary he is. There is truth. Love is real. And he has life in every word to the extent that it's absurd.
Couch Love
I am in love with my couch. There, I said it. There's a short story that accompanies this couch, and it's not very important except it is what I believe fueled and cemented my love of craigslist and bargain buys. It all started back in Spring 2007 when I decided that I didn't want roommates anymore. I had already purchased couches and various furniture off of craigslist before, but this time, this time, I knew what I wanted. I knew that I wanted something clean, classic and comfortable. What I really wanted, would have cost me $1,000 plus but on a BGC budget that definitely wasn't happening.
Anyone who has every perused craigslist knows that there are a lot of losers and very few winners. Not in terms of people, but it terms of furniture. People selling 80s couches, calling them "vintage" (when ratty and run down are more appropriate terms), and then asking $150 for them. People using the terms 'cute' (small), 'well loved' (beat up), 'several small spots' (only god knows where those stains came from). You get the picture. Now there were nicer couches on there, but people wanted to get close to what they paid. I'd get so excited to see a normal looking sofa only to realize they're asking 800 bucks for that baby. No thanks, I can get a new couch for that much.
I had been looking for weeks, maybe months, but most certainly weeks. And anyone who knows me knows that when I'm on the lookout for something, I'm relentless. Every day, hour, minute that I could be on craigslist I was surfing around using key words and terms that I knew would find me the couch of my dreams. I have to say I was pretty hopeless. It was a week until I moved into my new place, and I was going to have to take that heavy, old, camelbacked couch that I had loved at one point, but was now an eyesore and a pain in the ass to move.
And then, I saw it. The couch that changed my life. The couch that made all of those weeks of searching, the worsening eyesight as I squinted at the screen day and night, totally and completely worth it. It was a small picture, and the text if I can remember something said that their cat had scratched the arms. But from what I could see, it looked promising. And, wait for it--it was only $50. They mentioned Room & Board (a company I had never heard of), and that they couldn't get it up to their room, so the wanted to get rid of it. A phone call to my dad, UHAUL at 8am in the morning, visit to the most beautiful home in Laurelhurst, and $50 later I was the proud owner of a $1,200 couch, with additional cover and pillows.
I was ecstatic, and as I sit here remember how blessed I felt that my dad would come out and help me at a moments notice, how lucky I was to have found this couch, and how blown over I was that someone would get rid of a perfectly good couch (for $50) because they couldn't get it up the stairs. These people truly didn't need the money, they just wanted to get rid of the couch. And I was the lucky gal who stumbled upon their ad.
Yes, I know that I just dedicated a whole post to my couch. But it's seen me through the past 4 years of apartment living. It's seen many bums, hosted friends over night, seen my brief career as a dogowner, been rearranged multiple times in two different apartments, and most importantly, has been a second bed to me. Whenever I'm sick, depressed, anxious, or if my bed is full of all my clothes, my couch is there. I don't know what it is about it, but it makes me feel better to lie down on it. I fall asleep immediately, comfortable, with the tv sometimes in the background lulling me to sleep, and I just feel better. I slept on it pretty much this whole week, and yesterday I felt ready to go back to my real bed, and face the world this morning with a fresh outlook.
I LOVE my couch.
Anyone who has every perused craigslist knows that there are a lot of losers and very few winners. Not in terms of people, but it terms of furniture. People selling 80s couches, calling them "vintage" (when ratty and run down are more appropriate terms), and then asking $150 for them. People using the terms 'cute' (small), 'well loved' (beat up), 'several small spots' (only god knows where those stains came from). You get the picture. Now there were nicer couches on there, but people wanted to get close to what they paid. I'd get so excited to see a normal looking sofa only to realize they're asking 800 bucks for that baby. No thanks, I can get a new couch for that much.
I had been looking for weeks, maybe months, but most certainly weeks. And anyone who knows me knows that when I'm on the lookout for something, I'm relentless. Every day, hour, minute that I could be on craigslist I was surfing around using key words and terms that I knew would find me the couch of my dreams. I have to say I was pretty hopeless. It was a week until I moved into my new place, and I was going to have to take that heavy, old, camelbacked couch that I had loved at one point, but was now an eyesore and a pain in the ass to move.
And then, I saw it. The couch that changed my life. The couch that made all of those weeks of searching, the worsening eyesight as I squinted at the screen day and night, totally and completely worth it. It was a small picture, and the text if I can remember something said that their cat had scratched the arms. But from what I could see, it looked promising. And, wait for it--it was only $50. They mentioned Room & Board (a company I had never heard of), and that they couldn't get it up to their room, so the wanted to get rid of it. A phone call to my dad, UHAUL at 8am in the morning, visit to the most beautiful home in Laurelhurst, and $50 later I was the proud owner of a $1,200 couch, with additional cover and pillows.
I was ecstatic, and as I sit here remember how blessed I felt that my dad would come out and help me at a moments notice, how lucky I was to have found this couch, and how blown over I was that someone would get rid of a perfectly good couch (for $50) because they couldn't get it up the stairs. These people truly didn't need the money, they just wanted to get rid of the couch. And I was the lucky gal who stumbled upon their ad.
Yes, I know that I just dedicated a whole post to my couch. But it's seen me through the past 4 years of apartment living. It's seen many bums, hosted friends over night, seen my brief career as a dogowner, been rearranged multiple times in two different apartments, and most importantly, has been a second bed to me. Whenever I'm sick, depressed, anxious, or if my bed is full of all my clothes, my couch is there. I don't know what it is about it, but it makes me feel better to lie down on it. I fall asleep immediately, comfortable, with the tv sometimes in the background lulling me to sleep, and I just feel better. I slept on it pretty much this whole week, and yesterday I felt ready to go back to my real bed, and face the world this morning with a fresh outlook.
I LOVE my couch.
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