Saturday, March 28

Back To The Crossword Puzzling Days

"You know someone's a ballerina if their houses are cluttered with bobby pins"

That quote, like, every other seemingly derogatory comment about ballerinas, is completely correct. As I scrambled around my house this morning to get ready for ballet, it occurred to me that I had picked up a bobby pin from the office bookshelf, one from the windowsill in the dining room, and one from inside my guitar case. As I pulled the last necessary pin from my jewelry box, I checked to make sure I'd gotten everything together. Legwarmers, underall, pointe shoes, my 30GB Zune, and my cell phone. I then checked my watch and was on my way out the door, foregoing breakfast for time reasons, when I was reminded that class was rescheduled for two hours later today. I took a moment to take a breath before noticing just how scrambled my schedule has honestly been lately. It seems like I'm juggling and about to drop one of the pointy objects currently being tossed through the air. During my two hours of having absolutely nothing to do, I decided to drag up an old project from the depths - my old crossword puzzle. Not solving it, but creating it. It's the crowning achievement of my Nintendo obsession; it's the 25 original Smashers' names going down, with the names of the newcomers going across. As I sat and worked, I found I was able to enjoy myself much more than I have in a long time.

At the end of the day, I've come to the solution that the busyness of life is what makes ballerinas scatter their bobby pins across the house. Never any time to put everything away, never any time to do the things that need done. But that's why everybody needs an hour or two to themselves. Who knows, maybe I'll finish my crossword puzzle next time!

Here's to Peace, Love, and Taking A Breath Every Once In A While
~Lola

Wednesday, March 18

This dying world, You brought it back to life...

As predicted, my sore throat has indeed turned into a flu. I can't breathe very well, I definitely can't speak, and any glimpse of food makes me immensely thankful for my little trash bucket tucked behind my bed. I'm wandering around the house in a state relative to being a ghost.

And yet -

I feel the need to escape the house for a few kartwheels. Why? Because yesterday began a trend of absolutely perfect days. The sun is blanketing our little pocket of earth with a blissful 73 degrees, the last patches of snow hidden from it's rays. The grass is slowly returning to it's green state. There's even a slight breeze dancing through the leaves still scattered from fall.

It's interesting to note the contrast of the perfection outside and the dullness inside. As long as I'm trapped in gloomy dimness, I'd much rather curl up and stare at the wall; but one glance outside reminds me that it's far too beautiful to not smile. So, I think I might sneak out to the porch after lunch. Who knows - maybe my sunburn from yesterday will turn out in a nice tan after today.

Here's to Peace, Love, & Not Letting The Doldrums Get You Down,
~ Lola

Saturday, March 14

The Pointe Shoe Philosophy

balance [bal-uhns] – noun
1. A state of equilibrium created by equal distribution of weight

Bloch Balances [block bal-uhns-ays] – noun (pl.)
1. Pointe shoes created for the express purpose of maintaining said state

Funny how if we love something, we'll ignore the pain no matter how badly it hurts. I came to this conclusion today as I donned new pointe shoes. Well, they're not exactly new. I had this style once before. I just purchased a new pair because my old ones officially died. I used those shoes for 3 hours straight today. To not be disturbing in relating the consequences, I'll simply say that we're officially out of band-aids after getting a new box only 3 days ago.

The same basic principle can be applied to all areas of life. Take friendship, for example. Friends can hurt. They can lie to you, they can stab you in the back, they can say terrible things without thinking - most of the time, without any knowledge of what they're doing to you. But if you truly love your friend, the pain won't even cross your mind (or if it does, it's suppressed before it can reach the sensitive nerve endings in the heart)

In the same way that I'm hobbling my way through the house, band-aids sticking to the insides of my fuzzy slippers, life too will move on soon enough. It might start out awkwardly and slightly uneven, but bit by bit things will adjust until the pain isn't even there anymore.

I intended this blog to complain about my new shoes, but I think maybe my rambling stumbled upon something a bit deeper. A bit more important. Maybe it can help someone out there who's dealing with a bit of hurt from someone.

Here's to Peace, Love, & Maintaining Equilibrium
~ Lola

Thursday, March 12

Ahh, Tea.

I woke up this morning with one of those premonitions that the dull ache in my throat is bound to turn into something worse. But the show must go on, nonetheless. So here I sit, a cup of peppermint chamomile next to me, watching the snow drift down outside my bedroom window. The heavy clouds have turned the world outside to grey. It's 39 degrees today; the snow is less like snow and more like little packets of slush tossing themselves to the earth in swirling circles.

I'm so ready for spring. Ready for the flowers and the sunshine. Ready for the rabbits and the robins to come back. Ready for that feeling of another year waking up from its dormant sleep. Soon enough, I suppose, it will be here again.

Until then I'll just sip at my tea.

In the words of Wordsworth:
"For oft, when on my couch I lie in vacant or in pensive mood, they flash upon that inward eye which is the bliss of solitude; and then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils." (from 'I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud' - a very lovely poem which I suggest reading)

Here's to Peace, Love, & Hopeful Thinking
~Lola

Monday, March 9

I Thought The Solar System Was Heliocentric...

"You can know someone's a ballerina if they can only count to 8 in French."

That is 100% true. In my 12 years of ballet training, the only French numbers I know are 1-8.
un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit
But I'm not writing this to reminisce the kindergarten days of learning numbers. This entry is for those of us to are forced to co-exist with "them" - the drama queens, prima donnas, and 52-year-old 'has-been's who are still convinced that the sun and the moon and the stars and the earth all chose them as the center of gravity. Come on, we all know one. Whether it's a co-worker, neighbor, "friend", cheerleader sitting behind you in Physics, or ballet instructor *cough*, they're present everywhere. What's worse is that they seek out those of us living normal, unnassuming lives. For those of you out there reading this who are one of "them" - STOP IT. The world does, in fact, still revolve around the sun. For those of you reading this who have to put up with a "her" (or "him", be it your case) there really is nothing we can do but shut our own mouths and block them out. Nothing they say will ever be about us anyway since we are merely another satellite in their self-sustained solar systems. Ignore what they say and soon enough they'll stop seeking you out on their own.

Tonight I'll go to ballet, and not listen to a word of what the instructor says. Why do you think I taught myself how to count in French?

Here's to Peace, Love, & Nicolaus Copernicus
~Lola

Nice To Meet You.

Welcome to my little corner of cyberspace. If you're reading this, chances are you don't know me. I'll give you a few basic facts. You'll be able to infer the rest.

1. My favorite colors are black, green, purple, and blue.
2. My favorite bands are Relient K, Thousand Foot Krutch, Family Force 5, Hawk Nelson, and FM Static. Expect it to change. It always does.
3. I play the guitar, xylophone, piano, and flute.
4. I am over the age of 10. How much older, you'll have to just guess. (note: I'm not 20. Yet.)
5. Oh, and I am a girl. In case you couldn't tell by how I write.

Good? Good. My life...is relatively boring. Small towns are ridiculous. Every once in a while things get fun, however. Be it a concert or a trip with some friends or just anything to get away. Expect reflections on here. But I'll attempt to make this fun & not quite so cynical as my outlook on life. I can't promise this thing will live. Heck, it'd be harder to promise this thing won't die. But I guess I'll try my best.

Here's to Peace, Love, & New Beginnings.
~ Lola