Moving Day Checklist: Update your RSS feed

It's moving day here at Sunny Sanguinity. I plan on leaving my blog here for posterity and nostalgia and the occasional weird post.

And hey, who knows? I'm not saying goodbye. I'm just moving forward.

So update your RSS feed here. And if you don't know about the magic of RSS feeds, then check it.

Thanks to everyone for reading. And I hope you move with me!

Movie Clip Monday--Food makes all the difference

Whenever I get home from grocery shopping (which is almost daily), I think to myself, Happiness is a full fridge. Food is on the bottom level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. You can't do much of anything without it.

I've been working with a great charity for the past month and wanted to share it. Food For Children is a branch of my local food bank. And every dollar they get provides five meals for children. And not just canned pantry items. Half of that is fresh produce. The stuff that smells and tastes oh! So good!

This video has some great interviews with families who benefit from the program. There are also some kids claiming that their favorite foods are broccoli and carrots. How fantastic is that?

I encourage everyone to donate time or money if they're able. If you're not from the area, you can find your local food bank here. Kids are out of school, so now is a great opportunity to help keep their refrigerators (and stomachs) full.

My blog is moving! Check is out at www.sunnysanguinity.com. Thanks for reading!

Who doesn't love a change of heart?

Someone asked me recently if I was fickle. I had to think about it. When I looked it up, the definition was inconsistent and given to change. But it came from an old English word that meant deceitful.

What I want to know is when did changing become a bad thing? There is an inherent difference between lying and changing your mind.

I guess one could say "Wait. I changed my mind, I did steal your lunch," but I think most of us can all agree that that is deceit. And just downright wrong. Who steals lunch?!?

I think fickle has gotten a bad rap. I've heard La donna è mobile. I know what people are saying about women and apparently spring. (*Gasp* And it's my favorite season!)

And it's true. I propose that being changeable makes you able to evolve and move throughout life. If nothing was able to change, there wouldn't be butterflies, humans would cower at lightning, and I wouldn't be writing this blog.

So I proudly answer the question: Damn straight I'm fickle!

I'm moving! Check out www.sunnysanguinity.com for my new blog!

Movie Clip Monday (not for the faint of heart)

I just spent the week in New York City, so I thought it only fitting that I post something related to the Big Apple. And what better than a little Saturday Night Live? (Fair warning to those who don't like controversial material; this could offend you.)

It can be tough being born with a virtuous look. A coworker of mine put it in an interesting way: "The package you come in is sweet and innocent."

I understand Natalie's need to prove she's not so sweet. It's why I came back from New York with a black eye. And while I'd like to say, "You should see the other guy," it's more like, "I fought the table, and the table won."

Klutzy, unable to hold my liquor, and sweet. Well, I guess there are worse things to be.

I'm moving! Check out my new blog at www.sunnysanguinity.com.

Movie Clip Monday or I heart Conan

I'm not a huge celebrity freak. I don't know who is dating who or read Us Weekly (Unless I'm getting my hair done. What is it about salons and celebrity magazines?), but I really love Conan O'Brien. I think he's hilarious. And he's a ginger. I'm a sucker.

So while this is 40-odd minutes long, it's pretty funny. Just push play and have it on in the background. Guaranteed Conan kicking it at Google will make you laugh. Laughing is awesome.

Time for a makeover!

So it's been a wild ride here at Sunny Sanguinity. When I started this bad boy, I didn't even know how to say sanguinity, but it has come to mean a lot to me (and increase my vocabulary).

The thing is, it's pretty much looked the same since I imported my MySpace blog into it in 2007. To quote my dear friend Iain, "It's so...pink!" So I'm thinking it's time for a change. *cue David Bowie music*



If anyone has any suggestions, I am all ears. Different colors? Fonts? Features? Hot chicks? You know, whatever. Thanks in advance for any input you have!

Cut your mirror some slack

A friend of mine recently joined a pilates group at her gym. She loved it. She sang its praises! Naturally, I agreed. Then the gym changed the space where her group met.

She was bummed about the new space because it was full of mirrors. "Before I could imagine I looked cool doing pilates," she said. "Now I just see how much I have to improve."

Earlier that same week I had covered one of my mirrors with photographs because I was so tired of constantly critiquing my workout. And I'm no beginner.

It got me thinking about reflections and how much credit we give them. When I look in the mirror, I'm only seeing an image. It's not me; it's backwards me.

Reflections are good teachers. They can guide you. But they are no substitute for the real thing. Only we can make our reflections move.

I propose we give our reflections a break and start believing what our minds see. You're a natural at pilates. My belt looks great with these jeans. Every day is a good hair day. I'd be willing to bet our reflections will follow suit.

A dreamy movie clip Monday

A coworker told me how she explained dreams to her son. "A dream is magic in your brain," she said.

I like that explanation. I also dig Cinderella's. A dream is a wish your heart makes. Oh man, my heart has some crazy wishes! It's gonna be a wild ride when they come to pass. Wait, it already is a pretty wild ride! Life is good.

Monday (has a feel) Movie-ish Clip

"It feels like Tuesday."

"Tuesday has no feeling." To this I disagree. Although I try to treat every day equally, I tend to agree that certain days have a feeling. I think this comes from years of doing the same things on the same days.

So I am going to try to shake things up. I worked on Saturday this weekend. I'm thinking about going out during the week. I woke up at the time I would normally go to work on Sunday. I say, let's change up the week! Thank God it's Monday!

April birthdays rock: Happy birthday Dad!

I was born a week before my dad's birthday. I like to call myself his birthday present. I'm trying to remember a year where we haven't been close in proximity during this time. It's cool, though. He and my mom are coming to visit in a week.

In honor of my dad's birthday, here are a few things that remind me of him.

Swings

I don't remember how many times my sisters and I would beg him to give us "one more underdog!" I remember him hanging the swing from the tree in our backyard. When one of the strings broke, he replaced it with red rope.

Our duplex had an awesome front porch swing. And as toddlers we would swing so far we put holes in the stucco. If my dad really got mad about it, I don't remember. The holes were still there the last time I was at the house.

Bikes

My dad taught me how to ride a bike. He ran behind me in the alley holding the back of my bike seat. If I sit still long enough, I can hear his footsteps running behind me.

Once my dad's bike got stolen. It was a sweet old red Schwinn ten-speed. I think it may have broken his heart a little bit. It's for this reason that I always lock my bike. It was a lesson he learned for me. Thanks pops!

Games

"What will you give me if I make this shot?" Dad would ask as we stood in the back alley playing basketball. As usual, my sarcastic 12-year-old self would say something like, "My undying respect." Damn I was (am?) a firecracker!

Tennis. Basketball. Baseball. Waterskiing. Swimming. Softball. Broomball. Diving. Hell, he even got into hockey. If he could do it (or if you could), the man was probably interested.

Spaghetti

I'm not quite sure how the story goes, but once upon a time my father was courting my mother and offered to make her a nice meal. He made her spaghetti.

Then they had kids and he fed them spaghetti. It doesn't matter how many years it has been since my dad actually cooked me this meal, when I make spaghetti I think of him.

Drives

With my dad, a drive was always the answer. It's a beautiful day! Let's enjoy it on a drive. It's been a tough week, let's forget it with a drive. You're in trouble. Let's discuss it on a drive.

Imagine my dismay in moving to the city where "going on a drive" meant nothing more than increased blood pressure. Yet, when it was the most important, my dad made it work. When I told him about my divorce, he drove all the way to the cities to see me. And in the car he said one of the best things a daughter can hear from her father. He said: No matter what you do, I will always love you. So even if we couldn't quite get the drive right, it was the moment that mattered.

Dad, happy birthday. I hope you have an amazing day. And here's to a year better than any one you have ever had before!

Ahoy! I sail! I'm a sailor! I sail! (aka Movie Clip Monday!)

Sometimes we have an opportunity to do something we've never done before. These things can be frightening; perhaps they seem impossible. But if it's front of you, I say Go for it! Who knows how awesome it will make you feel?



Although I don't recommend tying yourself to the mast of a sailboat if you decide to go sailing, like Bob does in this scene in What About Bob? Sailboats tip over often. It could be unfortunate. So maybe if you have the opportunity to do something new, do some research too. And then go for it!

Happy birthday to me!

It's my birthday week. Hell, it's my birthday month! I've always been a big fan of birthdays--it's like your own little holiday.

I'm not huge on gifts. That's not to say I won't accept them. I guess I just prefer the gift of someone's company to anything that can be purchased from a store. And I won't turn down a beer either.

But since it's my birthday week, I feel like I can get away with going down my wish list. I already have a few people committed to helping me with this; I hope you're in too.

I want:

• Success in whatever we all strive to do. Let's meet our goals. Let's be as awesome as possible.
• More friendly moments. Let's be nicer to store clerks, bank tellers, wait staff, people you pass on the street, census agents, and fellow drivers (even the morons).
• Honesty. If you can't make it, don't say you can. If you want to know if that outfit makes you look fat, be prepared to hear yes. Let's be real.
• Nuclear disarmament. Hey! It's my birthday wish list.
• More green moments. Let's walk to the store. Hold your nose, empty, wash and recycle that old plastic dish in the fridge.
• A few more questions. Remember when conventional wisdom said the earth was flat? There's gotta be more of that out there. Let's find it!
• Love. Embrace the love you have. Extend the love you give.

The more we want for everyone, the more we will all have. I know this is my birthday wish list, but I'd like to think it benefits many. If you're in, thanks for playing! If not, I hope to see you the next time the game comes around.

Movie Clip Monday!

Ever feel like you're getting pushed around? I say speak up and do what's good for you! I don't necessarily condone crashing into parked cars, but sometimes you have to be a bit forceful to get your point across.



I wish I still owned Fried Green Tomatoes. I only had it on VHS. I think it's going on the Netflix queue. (I also cried when Chris O'Donnell died. That was before Batman & Robin.)

Superwomen need love too

Oh Christina. How I love thee. I'm stoked for your next album, Bionic, mostly because you get it. Women ARE superheroes, and once in a while we are bionic.

You've been an inspiration to me through some tough years. You march to the beat of your own drum. And when my rhythm section went quiet, I cranked yours up. You rock, girl! You definitely make it onto my superhero list.

Here's to all the women who make the world a better and different place. Show those women your love and appreciation. They may make it look easy, but we all need encouragement, love and affection. It's superhero fuel. That and candy.

Movie Clip Monday!

In honor of opening day, here's a scene from A League of Their Own, one of my favorite movies about baseball. And I love Lori Petty.

But really, what always always sticks with me is this great line. I'm pretty sure I've used it hundreds of times. "There's no crying in baseball!" Once again, Tom Hanks is brilliant.

Every Friday should be Good Friday

It's Easter. Well, actually it's Easter tomorrow. Right now, JC is still kickin' around whether he wants to rise from the dead.

I really wish that Easter was like Christmas. Not in the whole buy-lotsa-gifts way, but in the permeate-my-life-for-months way. It'd be great if people decorated their houses, Easter songs were played on the radio non-stop and we all walked around saying "Happy holidays!"

Alas, that is not the case. But I did see this on a car today, and it made me smile. Happy holidays everybody!

Movie Clip Monday!

In keeping with the Easter theme, here is Will Ferrell's prayer to Tiny Baby Jesus.

Easter Jesus is a little more solemn than Baby Jesus, so I thought i would add a little laughter. Plus Easter Jesus would probably love this movie.

I like to picture my JC waxing poetic around a bonfire making s'mores. Wouldn't that be awesome? I'd toast my marshmallow all perfect and let him eat it because he burned his. He may have been patient with sinners, but he was never good at waiting for sweets.

God loves the Easter Bunny

I love Easter. Spring is here. Baseball season is starting. My birthday is always around that time. And lilacs smell amazing...

But really, let's not forget the most important part: Cadbury Eggs!! While I can say that I've grown up in a few ways, these will forever remind me of being a kid and eating them with my dad.

Delicious. And Sante bought me a 4 pack even though he can't eat any (damn that lactose)! Now that's a good man.

Are priorities supposed to be straight?

Lately this word has come up a lot. It ties in to that elusive balance I try to achieve. What are your priorities?

It's funny in a way that once you have a family and a house and a job, your priorities are pretty much set out for you. Not that having that stuff and balancing it is easy; it just seems easier to decide what's important to you.

No one is going to question you when you say your biggest priority is your child. Or paying your mortgage. But they might look at you a little funny when you tell them your biggest priority of the year is being a grocery store cashier. Or eating every Dairy Queen Blizzard of the Month.

But then again, who knows what kind of crazy antics of mine (or others like me) will turn into thousands of years from now? What makes sense? More importantly: Who cares? Just Be!

Movie Clip Monday!

When one writes for a living, one often comes up against the dreaded writer's block. And while it's hard to see the positive side of the coin with this problem, I take comfort in the fact that my mental state is capable of handling it.

It could be worse, couldn't it? I could be Jack Nicholson's character in The Shining.

I will say this: I've caught up on my e-mails and my html knowledge is getting better by the hour.

Why so serious?

Yesterday was the first day of Spring. The Equinox. Y'know, balance of light and dark and what-have-you. Usually I come up with some elaborate celebration that involves fires and ceremony and all that.

This year I didn't plan anything. Not purposely, mind you, but because it kinda snuck up on me. What ended up happening? French toast breakfast, motorcycle to the lake, hang out in the forest all day, ride back through the mountains, glorious BBQ chicken dinner, fall into bed exhausted.

(A special thank you to Sante, who rode all over the mountains, through trees and on bumpy roads just to make me happy. Well, and I think he likes it too. You rule.)

I've never been one for planning, unless it's something I think is really important. But lately I've been learning that importance is relative. And you should never take yourself too seriously.

A tree hugger's ode

I'm not sure when, but somewhere along the line I started realizing that trees were talking to me. I believe in the magic of trees. They're graceful, patient, resilient, and wise. No matter where I go, they never fail to humble me...

Here I am in the forests in northern Washington, where I think I first learned that cigarette butts were actually garbage. (Still working on bring *that* karma bank account back to zero!)

Trondheim's trees were so wild they wanted to give me a hug. And they were in a cemetery.

Oh Minneapolis. The tree canopies over busy Lyndale Avenue in the fall will never fail to make me smile.

It's all green and mossy--how fitting for a tree in Ireland! It's as if it's wearing a tree fleece.


This one told me a few secrets. I'm headed back to Big Sur for a second installment one of these days.

To all the trees in the world: You know I love you, but I just wanted to give you a little shout out. You make every day! (And you make tons of oxygen...gracias!)

Movie...erm...Music Clip Monday!

OK so it's not a movie, but damn it's cool!

I'm a mean machine, been drinking gasoline" Have you drank Nighttrain? Might as well be gasoline...

Remember when Guns 'N' Roses was cool?

(Skip the ranting and talking and move the timer to 1:45 for some kick-ass music!)

Movie Clip Monday!

Love is all around. My friends are in love. I'm in love. Spring is in the air :)

"I came here tonight, because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

*Happy sigh*

I may dress up for the Oscar party after all

I've never been into the Oscars. Award shows are silly fodder. Bread and circuses, right? But today I saw a nominee for best animated short, and I think I may actually care who wins in this category.

I know it's 16 minutes long, but it will be worth every minute. Watch it twice. The first time I saw it was like the first time I read Tom Robbins: You mean, other people think like that too?




Even if it doesn't win, I would have probably never heard of this short if it weren't for the Oscars. So I guess maybe award shows aren't all bad.

Movie Clip Monday!

Growing up as a kid this was one of my favorite movies. And I had the hugest crush on Michael J. Fox.


This movie just fueled my fascination with time and one's ability to manipulate it. It's been two decades (wow, really?) since this movie came out and I still love it. And Doc Brown is hilarious.

What kind of a name is February anyway?

Thank the Universe that February is only 28ish days long. For whatever reason, I got my ass kicked this month. That's not always a bad thing. In fact, none of it was. Change is stress. Even good change.

I kicked off my work blog at the beginning of the month. It's such a good time. And I get paid, which is a total bonus.

I moved to a new place. Bigger. Warmer. Closer to work. Solid.

I booked a last-minute trip to surprise my best friend. In order to do that I had to work some odd hours. Totally worth it, but I'm still shaking the feeling that I should be working every free moment I have.

I accepted my death. It sounds dramatic, I know, but having a major health scare will do that to you. And I'm stoked to say that everything is A-OK for now! I'm so happy to have a good support system around me.

So long February. It's been real. It's been fun. I am soooo looking forward to March! Here's to spring training baseball, Daylight Savings Time, and St. Patty's Day!

In honor of the winter Olympics, here is a trailer from The Cutting Edge. OK I know it's not a movie clip, but it was one of my favorite movies of all time as a youngster. It combines two of my favorite winter sports: hockey and figure skating. I think I might have to go out and rent it!

Life Goal No. 14

It's a life goal of mine to see the Olympics. I'm not picky. Any Olympic event will do. Any place in the world will do. Every few years I revisit this goal when the games come on TV.

The Olympics are some of the coolest events in the world because originally they were created to honor the Greek gods, all sorts of amazing athletes show up and it's one of the few times the world comes together to celebrate something positive.

My best girlfriend from Norway will watch her friends compete in downhill skiing events in Vancouver today. How insanely awesome is that?!? She asked me to go, but I told her I just couldn't swing it.

What she doesn't know is that her friend is picking me up at the airport on their way out of Seattle (she thinks her friend is picking up some clients) before they drive to Vancouver. Today. At 3pm.

Oh. My. God. I can't tell you how impossible of a secret this was to keep. Fulfilling a life goal, traveling to a new city AND surprising my best friend I haven't seen in three months? AHHHH!!! I am so excited and I just want to share it with everyone! Life is good!

Movie Clip Monday!

There are times when I wonder what people are thinking. I question authority. I don't buy everything I read (and I haven't even read everything I've bought).

Then I remember that it could be worse. I'm a woman in a time where I'm just viewed as "a little crazy." I could have been born when this Monty Python sketch wouldn't have been far from reality. Bless this decade!

We interrupt this week's optimist message for a minor crisis of philosophy

A few weeks ago the big boss at work said I was too happy. And a few minutes later someone used the adjective "bubbly" to describe me. Between the two I was mildly disturbed, but I let it go.

Since then I had been wondering (especially in my quest for balance): Is too much optimism a bad thing? Can it be used as a defense mechanism? Is it synonymous with delusional? In other words, is denial more than just a river in Egypt?

I know it's "normal" to be sad sometimes. But I never said I was normal. I've just been wondering if maybe, in my journey toward the less extreme, I should consider being less optimistic.

As if to answer my question, a coworker put a quote from Mahatma Gandhi in front of me yesterday:

Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior.
Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior become your habits.
Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.

I still have the question in my head, but it made me feel better. Thanks Gandhi!

Movie Clip Monday!

Laughing so hard it hurts is awesome. Being around people who make you laugh rocks. When I'm looking for a quick laugh, this is the movie clip I reach for.

God bless Tom Hanks. I would seriously rewind (remember when movies came on a tape?) this scene over and over, laughing hysterically, gasping for air with tears rolling down my face. Those are the best moments.

Life's a roadtrip: Pay attention to the signs.

Finding out a musician I just started getting into wrote a lot of the trashy pop songs I love

A week of sunshine when every forecaster saw rain


Blogging to pay the bills


Meeting a man who loves cookies as much as I do

May everyone be as blessed with happy accidents as I have been.

Movie Clip Monday!

I've been in a Tank Girl mood for a good few months now, so I thought what better way to start off the week than with this clip? Lori Petty, you rock my world!

Oh, and I'm wearing gray kneehighs over fishnet stockings for the occasion.

Maybe the Me Generation was right all along

While watching Julie and Julia (an excellent movie if you're thinking about renting it--Nora Ephron=genius.) the other day, someone posed a question to me: Are all successful people selfish?

My immediate answer: Yes.

I think selfishness has gotten a bad wrap. Even Merriam-Webster is out to get it! Perhaps I should submit an addendum to the definition, because I believe that selfishness is an integral part of mental health.

In order to be selfless, one has to be selfish. I can't save you from drowning if I don't know how to swim. My cooking skills suffer when I'm dying of starvation. In order for me to help you, I must first help myself.

I know that there are plenty of acts of selfishness that hurt people and destroy lives. I just think that some acts of selfishness are necessary and good as long as they don't harm others.

Radar Love

For whatever reason I woke up a few mornings ago and read my good friend's horoscope. It seemed to be pertinent to her--all about new learning opportunities and such (she just started school)--so I sent it to her. She emailed me back saying, "This morning I woke up thinking I should ask you to send me my horoscope."

Last night I thought: My boyfriend should start the dishwasher. Two minutes later, he did.

This morning I was listening to a really silly pop song while writing my sister an email. On a whim I included the name and artist of the song, thinking she might like it. She later told me that she had an 8 a.m. dance party because of my email.

My friend and I have a phrase for these sort of things: It's weird but it's not.

We are all connected. If you listen to the "weird" impulses in your brain and believe what to some is unbelievable, you can all become mind readers.

Astigmatisms can't be blamed for lack of perspective

Today I was tasked with inspiring my team at work. I introduced them to Littlewood's Law, which basically applies a little math to my idealistic attitude. I thought it was pretty good. What I didn't expect was for them to come up with a few of their own thoughts about it that blew my optimism out of the water. Bonus!

Last night my boyfriend gave me some constructive criticism and I actually listened. (What? I'm not perfect?!? This came as a shock to me as well.)

I've always said that I want to surround myself with people that make me want to be a better person. But I guess I've never really fully considered what that means. Wanting to be a better person is one thing. Becoming a better person is another. It involves admitting that others might know more than me and then changing to see their point of view. Or to at least consider it.

These things are uncomfortable and scary. All of this reminds me of a moment in As Good As It Gets.

I guess I just want to say thank you to everyone who is in my life in big and small ways. You make me want to be a better woman. And damn, I know it's hard because I'm stubborn and arrogant!

In turn, I encourage people to speak their minds and keep their perspectives. No one person thinks in the same way, and you never know whose life or heart you will touch with your thoughts.

Hope in all the right places

I have a very strange fear of dying of dehydration. Most of the time this works out to my advantage, because I drink a lot of water and eat tons of fruits and veggies to stave off said death. But once in a while I have to face that fear. And this week I am: I've gone to the desert. Las Vegas to be exact.

Those who know me know that I've sworn off this place. I've been here several times, and it's not really my scene now. Alas, there is a trade show here, and I want to be involved. So here I am. Again.

Once I got here I knew tons of old memories would come flooding back. And I was right. But they weren't the memories I expected.

The last time I was here I had just turned 27 and swore to myself that I was going to do all those things I had set out to do in life. People say that all the time, but dammit! I was going to do it. I was about two months into it and honestly thought I wasn't doing too bad.

I wanted to get paid to write. At the time I worked at a job I hated and didn't do much writing beyond emails. These days, most of my job is writing, and I even get to play on Twitter and Facebook.

I wanted to be in better shape so I joined a gym and worked out a few days a week. The weekend I was in Vegas I certainly wasn't going to work out! This was Vegas for god's sake! This week I packed my workout clothes without even thinking about it.

I lived in Minnesota, the state I grew up in. No way in hell I was going to spend the rest of my life living there. Don't get me wrong, I love the place, but have you checked the weather lately? No thank you! I can't complain too much about the weather in California...because it's CALIFORNIA! Oh, and I call it home now. Sick!

I started blogging then, and I tried really hard to update regularly. But months would go by and nothing would be posted. Lately my posts have been weekly and usually on the same day. (OK, OK I am a few days late this week, but c'mon it's Vegas!)

The few days I have been in the desert has been nothing but encouraging. And at the beginning of the year, with new goals in mind, I think most people could use the encouragement.

So in that spirit, I encourage everyone who has begun a journey, big or small, to look for the positive influence in something they may not have considered, whether it be that person who never has anything good to say or a place with nothing but difficult memories. You may be surprised at what you encounter.