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23
Mar 12

Used Cars Priced to Sell

I do my best work at 1 in the morning

Used Cars Priced To Sell

I’m so tired of seeing the same old story rollin on down the highway

Older guys driving new cars

Sure they are fresh off the lot and

Their lines are sleek and smooth, chassis’ compact

They purrrrrr, and they whine

Or, if you prefer, they don’t make any sound at all

I hear you can handle one pretty easily, and where is the fun in that?

What I want to know is why I am still on the lot?

What do those newer cars have that I haven’t got?

Where can they take you that I can’t?

Sure I have some miles on me

I’ve been driven around the block a few times

My paint isn’t as shiny

And I turn like a boat

But man oh man, the vistas I’ve seen

Rolling through waves of prairie grass in the minutes before morning

Winding through forested mountains collecting fine mists so fresh

It could be the condensation from God’s own breath

I’ve done the miracle mile running on empty

Just to reach the only gas station for miles with one chug to spare

I know what it’s like to crash, and come away ok

Sure I’ve been used, but I aint no lemon

And the flesh of this fruit is ripe and sweet

Oh the trips we could take, the places I could show you

You could get your hands under my hood

Learn how I tick

I bet you could fix every little leak and rattle in these old bones

I am fixable because I am understandable

and I am understandable because I am real

We could drive far into the horizon

Till it stretched so thin we can’t tell which way is north south, right or wrong

It would be just me and you

And when we are so beat up and worn out

And you are out of money with nowhere else to go

You could curl up inside of me and I would be your home.

I may not have all the bells and whistles

And you’ll never be the first to strap in and drive

but I am a classic, which means I am classy

And that is all the key you need.

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22
Mar 12

Grateful should really be spelled Greatfull

Today’s post will be short, sweet, and simple. It is such a beautiful day outside right now, it has put me in a thankful mood, so I wanted to list the top 5 things I am grateful for today. So, read my list, think of your own, then go outside and live gratefully.

1. Mothers. They are awesome. They brought you into the world and didn’t take you out of it all those times you did something dumb as a teenager. They listen to you, cry with you, and tend to have awesome skills like making delicious food and giving killer back massages. Love your mother, and be kind to her. Be kind to your mother earth too.

2. Good music. There is nothing like finding the perfect song that fits your mood or the situation you are in. Whether it is a blues ballad when you are feeling down, a pump up power rock anthem, or a mellow lute picking apart the stressed knots in your brain, finding that song is like being introduced to a long lost brother or sister minus the awkward questions.

3. Sunshine. It’s warm, it melts ice, and reminds us that all can be bright and beautiful. Sometimes in the middle of winter I crave sunshine more than I crave chocolate. And I crave chocolate. A LOT. Any day with sunshine inside and outside of your soul is a good day.

4. Acts of Service. Nothing makes one feel quite so special as being on the receiving end of an act of service except when you are the one giving the service. Serve someone and the whole world changes. People seem better, more lovable, and easier to get along with. We are never more true to our natural potential then when we are serving someone else. Nothing gets you out of the stinky attitude box like serving someone and I am grateful to have that remedy at my finger tips.

5. Good food. Specifically, Bacon. I don’t really need to explain this, do I? I had a delicious BLT for lunch and it was like sunshine married happiness in my mouth. Bacon can make a bad day good and a good day great, which is why bacon is great and why I am grateful for it.

So, like I said, make a list of the simple things you are grateful for, then go out and find more things to add to it.

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28
Feb 12

Setting a pace

For the month of February, i had been focusing on developing a set of skills and habits that I wanted in my life. I’ve been focusing on practicing the guitar daily, working out to a regular schedule, and planning my time. All this has helped me figure a few things out, or at least reminded me of things forgotten.

1. Daily practice, even for short amounts of time is enormously more beneficial than large blocks of intermittent practice. Take the guitar for example. I have owned a rather fabulous Yamaha acoustic guitar for several years now, and have attempted to learn to play by spending lots of time playing with an irregular schedule. This lead to sore fingers and frustration at my inability to play what I wanted to. However, with just practicing about 15 minutes a day on the weekdays (longer on weekends because I have a bit more time then) I have steadily built calluses so my fingers aren’t as sore, and most importantly, because I am practicing only 15 minutes a day, I am not over tiring myself during that time and I have more realistic expectations of what I can learn in that time. I don’t get frustrated as often because the pace I have chosen doesn’t allow me to expect to learn a whole song in my practice time. Instead I have been able to relax and surprise myself when after a few days of 15 minute practice I can play something better than I would have in a 1 hour block of practice.

2. Setting realistic goals that still challenge you can push you to do more than you thought you could, when combined with a proper pace. To help me build a work out plan I took on what is called a Lazy man Iron man triathlon. Over the course of a month you run 26 miles, bike 112, and swim 2.7. To do this I divided these totals into chunks that I could finish in a certain amount of days. I gave myself 4 days to swim the 97 laps (about 24 laps each day), 14 days to bike the 112 miles (8 miles each day) and about 9 days to run the 26 miles (about 3 miles each day). I then alternated the days so I was biking MWF, running TTH, and swimming Saturdays. If I hadn’t have broken it down like this I probably would have pooped out the first week. The measurements I had set for myself were realistic because I knew I could do the amount required for each day, but I felt it was challenging and therefore worthwhile because the pace of doing a portion every day would push me. I really gained a love and appreciation for consistent exercise this month, even though I will not finish the iron man in time, which leads me to the final thing I learned that I would like to share.

3. Maintaining flexibility in your schedules and practical goals is paramount to success, and sometimes being flexible is more important that the achieving of your numerical goals for that week or month. Due to unpredictable school responsibilities I had to make a choice: work out today to maintain progress towards my iron man goal, or subordinate it to a more important goal (at least to me) like pulling my weight to finish a company presentation, or spend time with a roommate or friend in need. Sometimes, in order to simply keep from burning out we need to introduce something new or different to our schedule that doesn’t necessarily correspond with the numerical goals you have set (like going to zumba or an “abs that rock” class). This might sound like rationalization, but to me, it is more about accessing what is really at the heart of your goal. If the new activity corresponds with the real intent of your goal, just not in a way that you intended to measure it, or corresponds to a higher goal or priority, then having the flexibility to incorporate it into your life is paramount to staying happy and sane.

So I guess to sum up what I have learned this month, it is that I need to have a steady pace of things in my life, and also the flexibility to deviate from that pace if I want to steadily accomplish my goals and utilize all the positive opportunities given me. This had really brought a lot of blessing to my life, in ways I didn’t expect. I feel healthier, happy, and have managed a very stressful semester much better than semesters gone by. I also feel more accomplished, authentic, and expressive with my new abilities on the guitar. And as long as I maintain these things with steady application and the introduction of variety here and there, these two habits will hopefully become characteristics of my life.

Change / fear / Thoughts / Uncategorized — No comments
22
Feb 12

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Does any one else find it ironic that while life can change in the blink of an eye, more often than not, those changes take, days, weeks, months, and maybe even years to accept. Why is change so difficult to accept and what is so great about the past that makes us want to cling to it with all desperation. I’ve heard it said that the only constant thing in life is change. I bet the person who first phrased that thought they were pretty clever. I have always claimed to believe that all changes can be for the good, but now that I really am putting that belief to the test, having to internalize it, and cling to it like a life preserver, it is harder to have faith in that belief. The past 4 months have brought major changes to my life and the omens of further change are building on the horizon. Singleness, graduation, moving, new jobs, heavier work loads, rediscovery, new neighbors, friends, and congregations seem to crash like waves against my small boat trying to maintain a steady course. At times it feels like in the midst of all this all one can cling to is the hope that everything will be for the best, that your compasses are reading true, and, as you crest upon yet another wave, you might get a clearer glimpse of where you are headed. Sorry for all the ocean analogies (or metaphors, I’m not really sure what the difference is), but if life ebbs and flows, I don’t really feel like I am flowing right now. How do I reverse this feeling of retreat, fear, and incompetence? How do I not feel so small in the face of all this change? Perhaps there is no other answer but to do your best and stay the course. I think one thing may be to allow myself to change, to let go of some of my assumptions about the world and my life and stop waiting for Superman to swoop in and save the day. But then that fear bubbles up from within and letting it all go seems so impossibly scary. In a late night conversation with my friend Jake, on the subject of fear, he said something deep and uplifting, followed by “and just punch fear in the face.” I don’t remember what it was that he said before that phrase, but “punch fear in the face” has become a bit of a mantra for me lately. I inscribed it on my bathroom mirror to remind myself every morning, much to the amusement of my roommates. I’m sure they would think I am crazy if I didn’t know for a fact that they are all just as nutty as I am (and I love them whole heartedly for it). So every morning I get up, face the changes of the day, and attempt to punch fear in the face. After all, what more can you do?

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06
Jun 11

Awkward Moments

So… I haven’t posted in a long time. If you are actually reading this and are one of the two or three people who have been checking back regularly to see if I have posted, I’m sorry that it has taken me this long to leave you something interesting to look at. Life has been hectic and I’ve gotten myself involved with quite a few things lately, which have made my time scarce. Plus, if you are one of the few people who read this, then you will remember me saying how bad I am at blogging regularly in my first post. However, instead of apologizing, I’m rationalizing which is making my awkward pause in blogging probably worse. So, In an effort to abase myself and seek your collective forgiveness I will share several awkward things that will actually highlight the things I have been doing during my blogging Hiatus.

1. Holi, the hindu festival of colors! I attended the Holi festival held in Spanish Fork, Utah this past march and it was amazing! It was my second time attending the largest Holi celebration in the western half of the United States. For those who don’t know what Holi is, here is a link that explains a bit. There is a lot of Hindu doctrine represented in the festival, but my favorite part is the emphasis on love and unity. According to Hinduism, Spring is the season of Love and the colors thrown are meant to make everyone look the same, absolving us of our petty outward differences that often drive our interactions. The festival was a wonderful experience. I got to dance barefoot with my brother in the temple, see my best friend who I hadn’t seen in quite a while, resolve differences with another friend, make new ones, and enjoy being alive. Now, what could be awkward about this you may be wondering. The pictures. Lets face it, no one looks good covered in multicolored chalk, especially when slipping down a muddy hill. See for yourself:

exhibit A

2. Dating! Wow, I know right. It’s ok to be shocked, I was too when it happened. The two of us are very happy right now and that is all I’m going to post on here about the status of our relationship, but I do want to share our rather awkward beginning, AKA the awkward first hug. So Andrew was walking me home after an evening together and we get to my door. Things had gone really well so we were reticent to say good night, but alas it had to be done. So he gives me a hug before he goes. Apparently neither of us were certain how long it should be because, I let go too early, then relatched when he didn’t let go, which made him decide to let go, which I then reacted to, then he reacted and I’m sure we looked like to buoys tied together bouncing back and forth in a tempest. But no, it did not end there. So we finally tried to untangle ourselves which lead to his arm being pinned under mine as he tried to walk away. Needless to say he wasn’t successful. Now you would think a hug like that, one that left both of us wondering why we both turned into fourteen-year-old’s who read things like Dating for Dummies (the online version, no fourteen -year-old would actually be caught reading the BOOK version), would have killed any romantic notions right then and there, but alas, we are gluttons for punishment and only wanted more after that :) (just kidding, being with him is anything but punishment). So far we have spent about two and a half wonderful months together and I am looking forward to many, many more!

3. Inspired by all the awkwardness in life, My Friend and film maker Aaron Allsop came up with the brilliant idea to put improv actors together with loose suggestions for awkward situations and see what happens. So far the results have been pretty funny. The following video is one of my favorites so far and there are several more to be found on his facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Awkward-Moments-In-Life/ Check out the following video and the rest of the videos on the page. We will be filming a few more this weekend and they should be up in a week or two!

Awkward Moments in Life – Shopping Break Up

So, what is the point really to airing all of these awkward moments in life. When it comes down to it, I think the point is that awkward will be awkward and it will happen. Inevitably and sometimes relentlessly. We all have awkward experiences that stretch our interactions to new levels and make ourselves examine ourselves, appearance, actions, words, and see ourselves in a new light. So I would suggest that you embrace the awkward, laugh it off, and enjoy the sensation that the next time that situation happens you will know you have been there before and that you will survive. It may even become fun!

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13
Mar 11

SPRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIING!

Today we began daylight savings. We all sprang forward and turned our clocks one hour into the future. A symbol of the begining of spring; the transitional que to be on the look out for green buds and listening for the chirping herald of spring sparrows. And while I think day light savings is out dated and useless in our modern society, a merely a haggard tradition that deprives me of an hour of sleep, I can’t help but feel hopeful at the arrival of day light savings. Despite the cold turn we’ve seen here in Rexburg after a few days of (warm) 47 degree weather, and the zombie eyed look of students who got less sleep than usual, I find solace in the knowledge that the cold is on its last, wobbly leg. That soon grey will give way to green grass and blue skies. Perhaps the reason I love day light savings is because it is a benchmark; a sign post along the never ending road of time that stretches on into infinity. In the blur of time, it is too easy to see only strips of grey and focus on the fact that winter will come again, that cold will return, and that colors will fade. Day light savings serves as a reminder to me that I can instead focus on the hopeful return of spring and the delicious promise of summer. Daylight savings serves as a positive benchmark in the flow of time that threatens to pull you under in its sweeping tide. No, I think I will live life for spring, swimming above the despair of winter’s cold grey light.

Hey look, the sun just came out :)

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07
Mar 11

What matters most is usually in the heart

I cooked artichokes the other day. It was my first time cooking them on my own and an interesting experience. I’ve had them prepared for me before, and had them canned, marinated, and cassaroled, however my culinary experience with them was limited to say the least. I steamed them on water seasoned with chunks of garlic and bay leaf, which gave it a nice, almost smoky flavor. I dipped the leaves in a simple mayonnase with butter and curry in it, and it was a deliciously fantastic and simple meal. Which got me to thinking: Who the stink ever looked at an artichoke growing on a thistle bush and said, “Hmmmm, I wonder if I can eat that.” Then they went through the probably awful trial and error process of finding some way to make it palatable. I can only imagine what it must have been like to encounter the furry choke within the leaves and wonder if you had just disected a green, leafy chinchilla. I must admit, I probably wouldn’t have gotten that far. I probably would have taken a few looks at the odd, bulbous plant and gone off to find a carrot or something else familiar. What a tradgedy life would have been if the person who was to discover the artichoke had instead, been someone like me. Sometimes we don’t take the time to dig, to excavate, to simmer, and taste. We are so impatient as a society sometimes, and often only take things for thier face value. I think that is why I like cooking so much. It’s less about conformity and more about discovery. Discovering that inside a bulb of fleshy leaves happens to lie a soft, tender heart. It forces me to look outside of the packaged life and pick something new and fresh. So perhaps this week I will look at life like I do cooking, with fresh eyes, trying to see through to the heart of things.

Some fun facts about artichokes

Artichokes are the most antioxidant rich vegetable in the human diet

They improve digestive and liver function, and reduce bad cholestorol and up the good stuff

They can not only be eaten, but drank in various herbal teas and Italian Liqueur

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01
Mar 11

If google died, would it have a eugooglagy?

It is fascinating the things you can find on the internet. I read 3 different blogs today that all revolved around the minute music scene in Rexburg, Idaho. There are a million and a half web sites on panninis (my current obsession). If there is anything, place, or person in this world that isn’t represented somehow, some way on the internet, then it probably doesn’t actually exist!

I’m also fascinated by the way people argue on the internet. Holy bovine! Do people actually enjoy that sort of thing? I can just picture legions of loners eagerly awaiting someone to respond to their latest inflaming comment, sitting and obsesively checking for hours. And, even if you don’t fall into that category, there is no inflection or body language to be seen, so you never know if you actually “won.” The other person may have just logged off and gotten a life. I can definately understand the temptation of a good argument (I’m rather found of them sometimes), but each time I’m tempted, I’m reminded of something my brother once told me: “Erin, arguing on the internet is like competing in the Special Olympics. You may win, but you are still retarded.”

That being said I love the internet (and our Special Olympians).

Thoughts / Uncategorized — 2 comments
27
Feb 11

This is the Begining

I’ve been wanting to start a blog for a long time. The idea of starting one at least, has been on my mind for quite some time. It would get stronger each time I would find a blog that I liked, inspired by the voice of each author and the little niche their blog filled in the vast ocean that is the internet. I would muse about what I would focus on, which one of my million loves and activities I would write about, and was left feeling unfulfilled. So, I endeavor not to focus on one thing. I’m no expert on anything. Using the well known phrase, I am a jack of all trades and a master of none. I have no expectations of fame or granduer for this blog, merely that it be an outlet of ideas and sentements in the hope that there are those who would actually like to know them.

So, nice to meet you. I’m Erin Fisher.