Rocky Racoon...

Or Julius the Watch-Cat fails miserably at his job.

Let's set the scene. 1:30 am. Asleep. Dark room. Streetlight through window.

I am suddenly awakened by weird noises. I look up, and notice something on my window ledge. At first, I think it's Julius...how did he get outside? Then I realize that this creature is MUCH too large to be Julius. NO...it's a raccoon. Chillin' on my window ledge like she/he belongs there. *Note that I live on the 3rd floor. I thought I was safe from creatures up here. Apparently not.* And where is Julius the whole time?? Sitting all the way across the room on his favorite chair, like everything is normal. NOT being the Watch-Cat that I have assigned him to be.

So I took matters into my own hands. I knocked on my window to attempt to scare the raccoon away. It kind of worked. He moved on. Probably to my fire escape. Or maybe my neighbor's side of the roof.

Then Julius decided to be macho after the fact and sit guard on the heater next to the window.

And than I had nightmares for the rest of the night. Because apparently raccoons outside my window at 1:30 am have that affect on me.

Gaining Perspective...

It is the times in my life when I am stressed out, due to school, work, finances, or family, that I start to lose perspective. First, I lose sleep. And then, the headaches begin. And they turn into migraines. (Kind of like the one I have had since Tuesday night) And next, my gratitude for other people and myself goes. Which is never a good thing. I do not do this on purpose, it is a fact of my life that certain situations trigger anxiety, telling me that it is time to take a step back and think.

Who do I turn to? Often friends, sometimes family. Maybe the better question is What? Because there is this little book that I have read over and over again that never fails to help me gain perspective. 

When my grandmother was dying, I read this book to her. 

When my cousin died, I put an excerpt of it in his eulogy.

This book has helped me time and time again through some of the hardest situations in my life. 

Here is one of my favorite passages:

"Is not religion all deeds and all reflection,

And that which is neither deed nor reflection, 

but a wonder and a surprise ever springing in the soul,

even while the hands hew the stone or tend the loom?

Who can separate his faith from his actions,

or his belief from his occupations?

...

Your daily life is your temple and your religion.

Whenever you enter into it take with you your all."

~excerpt from The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran

CookieCookie...

My Healthy So Delicious Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

Yes, I baked today. 

I like to bake. 

It can be fun. 

They are soft and delicious. And so good. And not as awful for you as most cookies. 

Recipe: 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup margarine, softened

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup mashed bananas (roughly 2 very ripe bananas)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup walnuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Grease cookie sheets.

Mix flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda together. Set aside.

Mix the margarine with the sugar until saturated. Beat in eggs and vanilla, followed by the mashed bananas. 

Add the mixture of flour and stir until combined. Mix in chocolate chips and walnuts.

Drop spoonfuls onto the greased cookie sheets.

Bake until lightly brown around the edges. (I don't actually time anything. You should be able to tell by looking.)

Makes 3 dozen. 

Enjoy!

Beaches

I am over being cold. And 10 degree weather. And a foot of snow everywhere I look.

I would like to be on a beach right now.

Badly. And sadly, I have not seen the ocean in four years. FOUR YEARS. That is 3 and half years too many.

These are the places with beaches that I would not mind residing in at the present time.

1. Grenada
2. Bali
3. Tahiti
4. Greece
 5. Fiji

Really, any of these places will do.

As long as I am warm, on the beach, with a margarita and a good book.

That's all this girl needs.

Dog Watcher...

About a month ago, I dog-sat for a friend of mine while she was off vacationing in Florida. (jealous)

She is such a cute pug. In an I'm-so-ugly-I'm-cute-way. (don't tell her owner I said that)

I renamed her ET. And I wrote a haiku. Just for her. 

Her name is ET

She always listens to me

Not like Julius

Okay, so maybe I shouldn't write haiku's. It's obviously not my forte. 

By the end of the week, Julius decided to be my friend again. He even decided to share the couch with ET. 

Cute

Snowed In...

I'm still waiting to be snowed in. Where is this giant blizzard that is supposed to be attacking central Illinois as we speak?

On the upside, school is cancelled due to the inclement weather. And I'm off work.

My plans for the snow day include (in no particular order):

1. paint my toenails
2. clean my apartment (Not)
3. watch a lot of movies
4. do the dishes (Not)
5. take naps
6. do my homework (Not)
7. read a book

I shall revel in my laziness.