"honk" if you hate "honkers"

My mama always told me that “hate” is a bad word, so I use it very sparingly.


I hate horn honkers. I know that once in awhile it is necessary. For instance, when I’m putting on my lipstick and have no idea the light has turned green. Or when, I’m digging in the glove box looking for that Snickers bar that if I don’t get that instant I might die, and I have no idea the light has turned green. But, I would say most of the time, a horn honk is not necessary, and can even be dangerous. I have witnessed numerous occasions where someone is honking for the car in front of them to make a turn, and the car in front is not moving because there is a person crossing the street (or some other very valid reason). And, when someone is honking at you, you get nervous, and oftentimes might make a move that you are not prepared to make, or just shouldn’t make. And maybe I have to hear more than my fair share of honkers because I live downtown, and cabbies are notorious honkers.
So people, ENOUGH WITH THE HONKING!!

Then this morning, I heard a news story on the radio. Volkswagon is recalling Jettas because they have an issue with the cars stalling. Do you want to know when the cars stall? Oh yeah baby, when they honk the horn!!

I say that is a great feature. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

*I must admit that there is one occasion that will force me to honk every time.  When I witness someone throw a cigarette butt out of their window, I will honk in disgust.  I will also yell, “The world is not your ashtray, bitch!!”

my first stop-action movie

So, I've been dying to make a movie for a long, long time.  I've had a movie just sitting in iMovie waiting for completion for two years.  I'll get to it; I just hate having to play around with stuff for hours because I don't know what I am doing exactly.

I am taking another Unravelling course, and in the process of working on the class, I was lying in bed yesterday morning and took over 200 photos of the sun rising over the lake.  Yes, I can see the lake from my bed, and the sunrises are often amazing.

I put together my first stop-action movie with the 200+ photos.


sunrise over the lake from my bedroom window from Natalie Mikolajczak on Vimeo.

religion and politics

The things we are not supposed to talk about: religion and politics. Today, I pick religion!

After a week of wakes and funerals, I was once again obligated to go to church. I was raised Catholic, but haven’t considered myself a Catholic for a very long time.

I have my own beliefs which include: all organized religion is malarkey, the bible is a work of fiction, and Jesus and Joseph Smith were either schizophrenic or cunning as foxes.

Lately, every time I go to church, it confirms my decision to no longer be Catholic/Christian/religious. At the funeral I went to this week, the priest went on and on about suffering and service. It seems as though, the more suffering you do, and the more you attend to others’ happiness rather than your own; the closer to God you become.

I call BULLSHIT. IF there is a God or Higher Power, she wants everyone to be happy and to live one hell of a life.

I came home and was telling Ignacio how bothered I was about how the priest was saying that by suffering so much, this person was now closer to God. I also mentioned how anytime I have ever heard a scripture in church; it was never a happy story. It was always a story about some bad shit that happened to some good person. Ignacio then went on to tell me the story of Job. Now that is another great example of bad shit happening to a good dude in the bible. My knowledge of the bible is, ummm, non-existent, but I just don’t ever remember going to church and hearing a happy story.

an example of the miracle the life

I just can’t buy into organized religion. Every religion thinks that theirs is the right one. Really? Everyone can’t be right. And, there is just so much other nonsense that I don’t even have the desire to write about with regards to organized religion. Why can’t everyone just join the “be deliriously happy and be nice to people” religion?


an example of 'love thy neighbor'

 All I could think of while I listening to the priest talk about ‘suffering and service’ and becoming ‘closer to God’ is: WRONG! And then that got me thinking of the other thing I hear often. When someone is going through a bunch of crap, someone brilliant will say, “You know, God only gives you what you can handle. God knows you are so strong and can handle all of this.” Here I go again, but I call BULLSHIT! The Higher Power/God/The Universe doesn’t want anyone to suffer. You know what she wants? She wants you to be freaking happy and to be a good person. And by the way, if someone said that crap to me, I’d punch ‘em.

When I die, I certainly don’t want a religious service or ceremony. But, whoever is doing the talking about my life, I want that person to be able to say, “That bitch lived!”

truer words never spoken

Yesterday, I had to attend a funeral, and after the funeral, I had to attend a wake. Today after work, I have to attend another wake. My college roommate’s mother passed away, a co-worker’s father passed away, and my 36 year-old second cousin passed away. That’s a lot of death for one week.




When I go to the gym, if I don’t take a class, I generally hop on a machine and watch an episode of something on my iPhone while I put in my 45 minutes. Currently, I’m on season 3 of Grey’s Anatomy. In today’s episode, George’s father passed away, and while I was on machine, I was crying. First, I felt that tightness in my throat that meant I was trying not to cry, and then the tears came, then my vision blurred, and I couldn’t see my iPhone anymore.

At the end, Christina went to talk to George, and this is what was said:



Christina: There’s a club. The Dead Dads Club. And you can’t be in it until you’re in it. You can try to understand; you can sympathize, but until you feel that loss….
George, I’m really sorry you had to join the club.

George: I don’t know how to exist in a world where my dad doesn’t.

Christina: Yeah, that never really changes.

my dad

March girls dinner

Jodee chose Mexique for our March dinner.

I have to pause here and mention that Nicole Richie and Benji Madden must be readers of my blog. They were just spotted at Sunda, our December restaurant. I bet all the restaurants we visit will be full with stars real, real soon.

There were six of us for dinner at this French/Mexican restaurant.

I had the Skate Wing, Nancy had the Chile Relleno (aka rat sandwich), Jodee, Aimee, and Liz all had the Asada (flank steak), and Heather ordered the Mar Y Tierra (scallops and pork belly).

I think we had our most ever winners of the “Clean Plate Club” at this restaurant. Those plates were seriously licked clean.

The Apple Tart and the Enchilada were our orders for dessert.



Mexique meals were delicious, and I loved when the chef came to our table to ask us how we were doing. To me, it’s kind of like meeting a famous person; a mini-President or something.

protein shakes build muscle



My cat, Piccolo


So, on this new diet, I have to eat within 30 minutes of waking up. That’s hard to do when I go to the gym in the morning, so an EAS protein shake it is.


My cat, Piccolo, LOVES those shakes. I don’t know how she does it, but she knows as soon as I take one out of the fridge. If she doesn’t see me with one, she can hear it when I open it. She is on me like stink on shit, and she is grabbing at the shake trying to take it from me. I always share a little bit of it with her.


Piccolo trying to get my protein shake




But look what happened after three weeks of protein shakes!

Piccolo after too much protein.  (photo courtesy of wwarby on Flickr)

nutjob

I made it through my second Bikram yoga class at Bikram Yoga Chicago. Immediately after class, I’m pretty shaky, but by the time I arrive home, I’m pretty euphoric. I’m happy and relieved and surprised that I’ve made it through a 90 minute yoga practice in a 105 degree room. I’m hoping for the weight loss miracle to happen.


I recently wrote about my passions here, and how I go balls out when I find a new passion/hobby. Well, I’m a nutjob and just *had* to make some purchases at the yoga studio this morning.

you see that glow??  that's just like me after class.

I just know that these things will IMMENSELY help my yoga practice.