Photo Diary: Carry the Stars with You

Photos from today and a few yesterday's ago. 

This morning I knew I wanted to make something and when I saw the (second to last) picture with stacks of glowing lamps (via tumblr), I was inspired to dig out the strings of lights I had purchased for the birthday fort a bit ago. New spaces are hotbeds of inspiration. 

That being said, the 'new' apartment is clearly only new to me and I love that the old-style door knobs look like the talking door handle from Alice in Wonderland.  

As if I weren't in a whimsical enough mood.

I'll always contend that pretending should be a life long hobby and this morning, with the lights properly strung, I imagined bringing the stars inside with me - to sleep under or gaze upon even if it rained, thanks to some finagling with an antique umbrella.  

Never far from my hoop, I squeezed in a short session after the POP(!) POP(!) of lights blowing out signaled it was time to clean up. There are always more photos of me singing along than not. 

The colorful swingset is from a recent trip to Six Flags. 

Wonder if there is a way to recreate that one at home? 

Oh yes, I think I like it here. 

The Circular Constant

Do you ever feel like you are going crazy when you haven't hooped for awhile? Okay - full disclosure - I feel like I am going crazy most of the time, but it is much more pronounced when I am living sans hoop.  Yes, I think the exercise aspect of hooping impacts the sense of calm I have post spin session - but even when it is only 5-10 minutes I feel worlds better. My conclusion is that this sense of happiness is  from having the reminder that something that exists purely for joy does exist in life (or, in my life.)

So many 'happy' things come with side-effects that make them impermanent additions in life. Heck, even going to the gym (way back when) was something that was 'good' for me and made me happy, but eventually left me with swollen, sore knees and joints and, of course, that often felt gym boredom. I knew it wouldn't be forever. 

Particularly at this time in my life - at twenty five, when the future is confusing and ever pressing, and I feel undeniably grown up, yet not very good at it - it is a blessing to have one thing that I am assured will be a constant in my life. Yes, it's a hula-hoop - but it is something that assures me that I will move forever, be active and learning forever and be able to find a sense of peace within myself despite the rest of life. 

from a brief but oh-so therapeutic hoop session yesterday.

It seems clear that many, many new folks are stumbling into this hoop world of ours - and whether or 

not they will feel the way I do about it (or it will instead be a rather depressing 'thinspo' fad...grumble) remains to be seen, but I hope that it is. Finding constants in anything - people, places, interests, professions - is difficult. Being the control-happy young and confused gal I am, I am glad I found one. 

Jump Through Morning

Ah, capturing that moment of jump through - so satisfying.

New. Home.

Here we are. The move is "over." "Over" in (air) quotation marks (and said with raised eyebrows) to indicate that the process is not really over until a routine is in place. Not until I can walk in, throw my keys on the side table and plop down somewhere comfortable after a long day will I really feel like I am home. Currently, my keys are... on the floor. The couch is made of camp chairs and the most comfortable place to hang out is on the kitchen counter with coffee in hand and feet dangling. It's just like being 10-years old again (though, back then, the coffee was 80% half & half, 15% sugar and 5% coffee.) 

Ah yes, the memories of this place and time are forming already.   

Premature nostalgia aside, I am really enjoying the 'newness' of it all. It's a blank slate, an exciting house-sized art project to personalize and perfect until it feels like home. I guess that's what they mean by laying down roots - finding objects that represent yourself, or an idea of yourself, and buying them so that you see who you are (or want to be) reflected in what you own. Choosing things based on preference and not necessity.  It definitely feels like another step towards adulthood. 

... though, traipsing in the building with dozens of hoops slung over my shoulder while I watch people scurry out in business suits keeps me feeling young.  

This place has passed the all important hoop test - with high ceilings and limited belongings making spinning with a teensy poly pro easy work. Another poly pro bonus is that  there are no colorful marks left on surfaces that are hit with the hoop - not even this pink hoop. With the memory of repainting the ceiling and walls in the old place so fresh, it was a big relief.

I'll miss the old place - we went out with a bang with drinks and ice cream waffles - but I am open to whatever this new experience has to offer. (and more ice cream waffles.)

Hoops sneak their way in to every picture...

I think I am finally accepting that change is life. I've heard it forever... but kept waiting for stable ground. Really, it's always moving - it's just about keeping pace and remembering to look around, smile, and be yourself.

Pink Hurricanes and Hula Hoops

Hurricane weekend. 

I am from Florida so I didn't know that watching the wall-to-wall coverage of a hurricane could be enjoyable - and for the most part, it's not - until you make up a drinking game to play with the insipid and redundant coverage. "Flooding" - drink, picture of a boat - drink, "We seemed to have lost our connection" - drink, Guy in poncho in the rain - drink. You get the picture. 

The only damage we suffered were a few hours without power, lots of rain, and a tree that fell over in the yard. Upon closer inspection I thought the tree looked like chicken. I almost got some ketchup and a fork for the picture - but really, that's overkill (right?)

The very last of my birthday goodies came in today, which was this wonderful Barbie shirt from nikkilipstick.com. Hells. YES. Sleeveless and super light it is amazing hoop wear. 

I brought out the hoops and my last bday balloon to get one of what will be my final sessions in this glorious yard. This upcoming weekend is moving time. 

How did it get here so soon? 

Dearest Hoop,

Thank-you.

For always giving me something to look forward to -

For shutting my mind off and letting my body take over -

For helping me grow and achieve -

For allowing me to more readily accept myself and others -

For giving me community and common ground.

It doesn’t matter if I am happy, sad, broke, stressed, 

bored, exhilarated, confused or doubtful - 

I always find peace in you. 

Thank-you.

crosspost from: myresponses

Jumbled Colors/Surreal Memories: Birthday Weekend [!!!]

Currently, I am laying down in the awesome bed-fort that still stands. 

The strings of lights are hanging a bit lower, the sheets are tangled and messy and a few white and pink balloons can be seen deflating slowly underneath pillows and blankets. 

Simple props, made important by memory. 

The weekend began with a bang as Cyndi and I excitedly scavenged all needed supplies for fort building, cake making, wine drinking and non stop revelry. Balloons, oh yes - we need balloons. Glow in the dark bracelets? Absolutely. Plastic wine flutes for added class, several feet of twinkling lights, champagne? Put them all in the cart.  

After putting up the structural support we got to the fun part - decor.  We added the LED hoop for extra lighting, and the new vintage hoop went too well with the color scheme not to be involved. The 3D printed mini hoops were clasped to the lights to further the theme and it was completed with mountains of pillows and balloons and stick-on letters perfect for acerbic birthday wishes. 

(Are there any other kind?)

It was then time for wine and conversation along with my favorite party game for horrible people.

All that fort building and witticism was exhausting and we left the cake bakery for day two. 

Sooooo... RAINBOW CAKE OWNS!  All we needed were five cake tins, one box of white cake mix, food coloring, funfetti frosting and vanilla pudding. We alternated the layers of frosting and pudding to cut some of the sweetness and man-oh-man was that some DEEEELICIOUS cake.

Rainbow flavored joy.

Throughout all of this I also got to dog sit my landlord's sweet silky terrier, which was certainly a birthday treat, and I received a surprise hot pink 29" polypro on Saturday. Sunday was pure recovery. A few spins and turns with the new hoop-but largely a day of lazing before leaving the surreal and care-free weekend world. 

All in all, I must say it was one of the best birthday's to date. 

The past several have been horrifically bad, and I had almost decided that birthday celebrations were over with. But I am so glad I questioned that motive. In my view, you only get one life to live - if you don't create the memories, who will? It is important to celebrate life, no matter what age. This year I stopped taking things for granted and finally made what I wanted to happen - happen. 

The older I seem to get the less I care, and the more fun I have. 

A fact that bodes well for next year, and those that follow. 

Happy birthday indeed.