The Office

So one of my little cheats on the 30 before 30 was watching the remainder of the Office that I have put off.  This was Michael's last epsiode, and the entire last season.  I finished last night.  And I, as expected, was bawling. I watched Michael's last one and the finale back to back... too much emotion!

 

I loved this show: through its ups and downs, awkward moments to sweet moments.  It was real.  Maybe not all the story lines were real but the people and their sturggles.  The emotions and the fears.   I loved the Pam and Jim story in its entirety.  I love the way Michael was ridiculous and Dwight was horrible but they were a family. The last episode was amazing.  I really apprecaite how the creators ended it with a wrap up. 

 

I leave you with Pam's advice. 

 

 

Oliver

So I have about 100 things I could blog about but the most recent thing to talk about it: I got a cat!  Last Saturday, I got a cat at the same place my brother and SIL got their cat, Snoop.  I had been preparing for some time.  I had all the necessary items waiting at home.  I just needed to find the right one.

I had gone to Petco a couple times near my parents' house and almost got a little gray kitty.  But the logistics made it feel like it might not have been the best timing.  So I waiting until after Thanksgiving and for a weekend, so I could be around for the cat to help both of us adjust. 

So I went to PAWS and talked to the people that work there.  They mentioned due to my work schedule, a kitten might not be the best idea.  It wouldn't have been fair to a little kitty.  So I went into a couple rooms and hung out with some cats.  I thought I had a girl cat picked out.  She was gray and beautiful.  However, she made it clear that she changed her mind with a little hiss at me.  But during this, a little orange cat kept coming up to me.  So I interacted a little bit with the cat named Elliot.  I decided he was the one.  So I adopted Elliot. 

However, I changed his name.  I will keep Elliot as a middle name because I can't just forget the name he came with and it is the name of the bay at the Seattle Waterfront (Elliot Bay).  So I decided to go with the name I wanted with Elliot as the middle name.  So meet Oliver Elliot.  (Oliver is from the Disney movie I grew up with, Oliver and Company, and after Olive, a teddy bear given to me by my two "little sisters.")

 

Oliver's first hiding spot was right behind some of my favorite books... clearly he was prefect for me!  He still loves hiding here. Ignore the scary eyes.  Flashes and cat eyes don't get along.

 

Napping and cuddling with me on the couch on our second day together. 

 

 

Oliver and his namesake, both with their new collar and tags.

Oliver kind of got in the way of my wrapping.  He was "helping."

I have a little residual fear from a previous cat my family had that wasn't very nice but we are working together.  He is pretty self sufficient.  He seems to sleep anytime I am gone.  He likes to cuddle, but in his own time.  He LOVES being brushed, which is good since he sheds quite a bit.  He likes to talk to me.  But overall, I am pretty happy with my little guy.  It is nice to have someone to come home to and someone to watch a movie with.  Hopefully this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Single Life

Warning: this is a ranting post.

I have a pet peeve.  It isn’t something I experience every day but I experience far too much and it is extremely frustrating.  So I give the general public some advice: stop asking the obvious questions. 

What do I mean?  If someone doesn’t have a job, don’t keep asking when they will get a job.  If someone is single, don’t ask when they are going to get married.  And if someone doesn’t have kids, don’t ask when they are going to have kids.  Trust that if it is happening, someone will share.  

The one I am dealing with is the marriage question.  Apparently, it is expected that at 27 years old, I am suppose to be married or on that path more than I am currently.  Let me tell you something: it isn’t just a decision I can make.  It isn’t a switch I can flip and have happen.  It takes time and a working relationship- two things I don’t have very well figured out.  If I were ready to get married, I would be engaged.  Stop asking me.  All it does is make me feel like I am missing something.  It makes me feel as if something is wrong with me.  It makes me feel like I am doing something wrong with my life.

What if… just what if… I am not meant to be married?  All your asking does is make me feel like that isn’t okay.  Plenty of people never get married.  And, if I do get married someday, what does the asking do for you or me right now?

I would like to someday get married, if God has that in His plan for me.  I do wanted children someday.  However, asking me and making me feel bad about not being married or even near getting married isn’t getting me any closer.  You are not helping.  In fact, you are hurting.  So stop.  Just trust that if it happens and you are supposed to know, you will. 

Dick Van Dyke: My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business

Book Title:Dick Van Dyke: My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business (A Memoir)

Author: Dick Van Dyke

So I was at the Bellevue library with my dad.  He was looking up something related to his genealogy research.  I wandered around and found this sitting on the table.  I love Dick Van Dyke.  I have a lot of respect for him.  So I picked up the book and decided to read it. 

It took me awhile to read because to be honest, I got bored in the middle.  I am not good about reading biographies.  I love fiction so much more but for some reason do not enjoy non-fiction stories.

However, if you like Dick Van Dyke, I would suggest reading this.  I learned a lot about him.

• He struggled financially.  His family was broke and just getting by in life.  His poor wife must have been so patient. 
• He was actively involved in his church and turned down roles that he was uncomfortable with for moral reasons. He enjoyed doing family films, like Mary Poppins
• He had an alcohol problem and smoked regularly.  He eventually quit both but neither was easy to leave behind.  They were part of his lifestyle and a choice to give up.
• And, worst of all for me to read, he cheated on his wife. This was probably what made it hard for me to read through parts of this book.  It wasn't that he slept with another woman, but he realized he was connecting with another woman better than his wife.  This created problems in his marriage.  He and his first wife divorced. 

Dick is a great story teller.  He was a strong man to get through Hollywood.  Soon after I finished the book, I saw his car caught on fire and he was fine. I think he might be invincible!

I have been going back and re-watching his movies and TV shows now with his stories about them fresh in my mind.  It does make it a lot more fun... plus the Dick Van Dyke show is just a great TV show!

Silver Linings Playbook

Book Title: Silver Linings Playbook

Author: Matthew Quick

I read this book after watching the movie.  I enjoyed both but I realize whatever order I complete a book/movie combo in, I like the first one more (generally. If not, it will always be the book).  So unfortunately, I liked the movie better.  Maybe I was too influenced by the actors in the movie than the characters in the book. 

However, with that stated, I did enjoy the book.  It delves into the head of a person with a mental illness.  The book starts with Pat getting out of a mental institution, as demanded by the court system.  The story follows Pat’s “recovery” and return to “normal” life.  The story sheds some light on how someone with a mental illness thinks (or forgets to think). It goes through his recovery process and how it is hard and not at all linear.

Pat sends a lot of the story pining for his wife.  He doesn't have full memory of how their fall out went- he has blocked it out of his memory.  So he is trying to better himself for his wife (lose weight, take her interest, take others' feelings into account).  He meets a friend's wife's sister, Tiffany in the process. Tiffany has lost her cop husband and is mourning him. Together, they recover.  Most of it isn't necessarily the healthy processes but in the end, they both are able to move forward. 

The story develops around their friendship and I think there are good underlying messages: We all need someone to believe in us, we all need a friend, and family is an essential support system. 

Laura's Birthday and a Taylor Swift Concert

The end of August brought two fun things: Laura's birthday and a Taylor Swift concert!

For Laura's birthday, Zack and I put together a BBQ with some of her friends. It was a wonderful weekend.

 

The next weekend, Laura accompanied me to see Taylor Swift's Red Tour at the Tacoma Dome. We coordinated our clothes to red, white, and black. Casey James and Ed Sheeran opened the show and Taylor put on a great show. We had a great time!

Sounders Game

On August 25^th, I attended my first Seattle Sounders FC game.  It was a blast.  Zack came with me and we cheered on the Sounders against the Portland Timbers (along with 67,000 people!).  It was Clint Dempsey’s first home game.  Sounders took the victory.

Here are some of the pictures:

 

 

 

  

I have a few more games (one tonight) in my future before the season is over!  I am excited!