Hospital-ity

Some of you might have noticed an unanticipated hiatus around here on Meri-Goes-Round in the past 5 days or so. Very late tuesday/ early Wednesday, I was awoken with searing abdominal pain. After hour of rolling around on the bathroom floor praying for vomit or nausea, wishing for something to go away, I decided to go to the ER.

Turns out my intestines had gotten themselves TWISTED upon themselves and the tissue in between had started to die. Scary stuff. Not too surprising that  it was a bit painful, I guess. They hauled me off to surgery, sliced me right down the middle, and removed part of my intestine.

The remainder of the week and weekend was spent in recovery, in the ICU, and then in the hospital. Thanks to phenomenal family, friends, and hospital staff, I was able to come home today and let man-go-round and assorted family members take over on nursing duties/ lifting duties.

I’m not sure when I can go back to work, so I might be blogging a bit more than usual in the next week or two. I won’t lie, this has really thrown me for a loop. I am daunted by the idea of having to reteach my body how to digest a potato, lift my arm to shampoo my hair, and not be in charge of everything. But as the quotes below say- I’ve got to try to see the bright side of it. It really is a new beginning. For slowing down, for doing things with intention, for listening to my body, I’m not sure. But my public service announcement is: If something seems really wrong, haul ass to the ER.

“What the caterpillar calls the end the rest of the world calls a butterfly.”
~Lao Tzu~

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to
see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
~Martin Luther King Jr.~

Meri

Posted in Uncategorized | 70 Comments

Tyranno-stories Rex

Hi friends!

I’d like to introduce you to somebody. His name is Rex, and he is the embodiment of all that is good in the world. Tonight he was faced with a most difficult decision:

Personally, I chose beer. I’m not much of a chocolate person unless its a certain (ahem) time of the month. Guess what’s coming up- Oktoberfest! Gasthoff’s- fill one of your boots for me, I’m ready for la bierre!

As I caught up with some fabulous people including one awesome chick who Mr. Rex belongs to, I learned a new term for something we all can identify with.

“The drink-sip moment.” Now, I can’t guarantee I’ll get this exactly right, but as I understand it, a drink sip moment is the culmination and payoff of something incredibly trying and effortful you’ve done. You then spin the endeavor into a lighthearted comment or anecdote with friends over drinks, and it is ALL WORTH IT. The drink-sip.

For example, this particular rock-star gal* can toss out a, “Oh, that time I climbed Kilamanjaro, sure…” and then take a drink. Or a sip. Just casual.

*(I’m not in love with her, though this post would read otherwise…)

This freakishly interesting and accomplished lady can also throw out, “Oh, when I lived in Africa…” or very soon,”Oh, when I did the iron-man…” (that was where this whole conversation came from).

and yet, the self-awareness and implied joke saves it from douchebaggery and pretension. Some people act this way in all seriousness. I’m not usually friends with them… but the drink-sip is tongue in cheek.

You might even say it’s delicious!

I suppose my drink-sips would include living in Spain, getting published, and…uh… finally paying off my car after 5 years. Not INCREDIBLY fascinating. I better get back to work!

What are your “drink-sip” accomplishments? Any on your list to add?

Meri

Posted in drinks | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

“Falling” for you

Yep, that’s right. It’s Monday again! It was a nice beautiful sunny day again today, and I enjoyed a lunchtime stroll. Although it was in the 80s today, fall is definitely in the air and there is a breeze I can hear now in the trees that sounds like a season change.

These were taken last fall. It's still green here!

Thus, today’s edition of Make My List Monday will be the “Falling for Fall” edition.

  1. Plan Chicago trip for next month with my mom and sister. Savannah proved too expensive to fly to, so we’re making it the Windy City, baby!
  2. Sit outside and soak up some last minute summer sun as it sets in the reflection of the building across from us.
  3. Meet up with coworkers for “midweek” (Tuesday) Happy Hour. Much needed as I cope with “fall scheduling,” etc…
  4. Start scouring Etsy for gifts as BIRTHDAY SEASON in my family approaches. You lucky ducks!
  5. Figure out when we’re going to the Renaissance Festival and buy tickets/ consider costumes.
  6. Watch season premiere of Parenthood on Tuesday, to continue seeing how they portray the Autism Spectrum, if I approve, etc.
  7. Start musing about Holiday Craft projects for friends and family. Yes, already. Seriously. Yes, before Halloween. So that I can craft at my leisure, not during December when I’m too busy to want to do crafts.
  8. Wear some of my new autumn-ish clothes I bought last weekend during momma time. It’s supposed to drop about 20-30 degrees in the next few days.
  9. Research apple orchards, pumpkin patches, vineyards, etc. for fall outings.
  10. Eat up some late summer produce before its gone-zo. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers galore in this house! I wish I could say they are homegrown!
What are you all doing this week? Are you getting in the autumn mode yet? Any tips for Chicago would be great- I haven’t been there since high school!
Meri
Posted in lists | Tagged , , , , , | 41 Comments

Reading Room


 Tis Sunday again. What a beautiful Sunday it was! I went for a stroll (hence the photo), spent some time doing film/production work with man-go-round, and relaxed on the patio with a magazine.

In honor of the day of rest, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite places to stretch out with a good book or magazine, and solicit your ideas too for future reading lounges!

Meri’s Favorite Reading Nooks and Crannies:

  1. Out on the porch, in balmy weather, with an iced tea.
  2. Sitting in Barnes and Noble or other large book chain with a warm fancy coffee.
  3. Just before bed, as my eyes are slowly closing.
  4. Sitting in front of the fireplace at my parents’ house, with a cup of cinnamon tea.
  5. Out on the dock at my cabin, with my big floppy sun hat and the sounds of my nieces in the background
  6. In a bustling coffee shop or cafe, when the book is so good you don’t even hear the noises around you
  7. Standing up, in the shelves at the library (then you know the book is REALLY good!)
Where are your favorite places to read? Do you have a special drink or snack that you always pair with a good book? What did you do today to relax?
Meri
Posted in books, flowers, photography, Uncategorized | 32 Comments

rose colored glasses

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

-Anais Nin

Tonight I went on a stroll, and saw all of these lovely roses in various states of bloom (I’m starting to feel a bit flower obsessed lately). Flowers are beautiful, but I think this quote is even more beautiful to me.

Life is nothing if not a series of risks. Without risk, I would have missed out on some of the most important events and people in my life. Thus, even when it is hard and scary, I still wish I could remember each day to take some risks. Not stupid, reckless risks necessarily, but outside my routine and comfort zone.

This past summer, I’ve finally taken a risk and started submitting some stories I’ve written for various publications. It’s not the rejection I’m afraid of, its facing up to and trying something that is actually important to me. If someone doesn’t like what I write, its okay with me. What scares me more is actually trying to do something I’m passionate about.

But so far, taking the plunge and calling myself a writer has been the most affirming and rewarding thing I’ve done in a very long time.

So I’m glad I’m taking the risk, for better or for worse.

What risks have you taken? Are you a risk taker or more cautious?

Meri

Posted in flowers, quotes, writing | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder

Happy Friday, y’all!

I saw this little beauty on my walk to work this morning (another phenomenally perfect sunny morning, that is). You may be tiring of my recent sunflower obsession, but this (not so) little guy just charmed me.

I do declare my little HTC phone does take some a-ok shots!

It got me thinking about, well, beauty. So here are a few quotes on the matter to get you thinking:

“Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.” -Confucius

 “Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“What would be ugly in a garden constitutes beauty in a mountain.” -Victor Hugo

“Exuberance is beauty.” -William Blake

“I am a thing of beauty.” -Frank Sinatra

 

Now, I believe I am beautiful. I believe that my body, mind, and soul are all beautiful. I also believe it takes guts to admit you think you are beautiful. I find beauty and wonder in so many things. I declare today the day of beauty and exuberance. So go stand in front of the mirror (or naked in your garden, if you wish) and announce your beauty to the world!

I’ll even go first!

What do you find beautiful? Do you believe you are beautiful? 

Meri

 

 

Posted in flowers, quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Meri Tyler Moore

 “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

– Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)

huzzAH!

Why this quote, tonight? Why this picture, along with it?

Let me explain myself. The quote and picture describe two different perspectives on what an adult woman (or man) should be seeking.

First off, this novel is full of spectacular social commentary about the time. Although it was a bit of a “dry” read for me at times, with sentences so long my ADHD could barely contain itself, its rewarding as well. This opening line from the novel is pretty widely known, and it speaks volumes to me how different generations react to it.

I had a conversation with my momma a year or two ago about what I wanted out of life (I’ll just jump right into the heavy stuff). She described the way that when she was in her early twenties, she was positive that she would have and wanted a marriage and a family, but didn’t have a lot of ideas yet about careers.

With a sudden realization after she said this, I realized I felt the exact opposite. Though I had already been dating man-go-round for at least a few years at that point, I wasn’t sure (and still am not) what I wanted for the future as far as a family, or for marriage. I did know, however, that my career would be important to me and that I would continue to grow it in the direction I was interested.

If I were to play feminist for a minute, I’d note that the beauty of the women’s movement in the 1960s and beyond cleared a path for it to be okay to prioritize marriage and family OR a career- or both. My point is not that men or women should not choose one or the other, its that I finally believe society in the U.S. has gotten to a place where its okay to not follow one prescribed path. And that is a beautiful thing, to me.

So maybe Mr. Bennet thought that any upper class gent would want a wife, or assumed his daughters all wanted to marry a wealthy gent.

But Ms. Go-Round (that’s me!) isn’t quite sure what her priorities are yet. Hooray for Modern Times.

Do you feel more committed to either family or career? Or do you care equally about them? If you have a family, did this change for you once you got married or had kids, or did you always feel this way?

Meri

Posted in books, celebrities, family, quotes, television | Tagged , , | 35 Comments

Reading Rainbow

A few weeks ago, my baby niece turned 1. For the occasion, her parents requested that if anyone wanted to buy her a gift, to choose a favorite book from our childhood to share with her.

For my dear little niece, I chose one of my current favorite children’s books: Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees. It’s about a giraffe who feels like an outsider until a friendly cricket teaches him how to find his own rhythm. My kind of book!

When I was a wee tot myself, though, I had never read that book. I had a different set of favorite books back then. This list could go on for days, but I’ll share just a few.

1.Mooncake by Frank Asch. Imaginative, fun, and charmingly simple. I must have asked to read this book a bajillion times. Thanks mom!

frankasch.com

2. The Monster at the End of this Bookby Jon Stone. Mystery, suspense, surprise, Grover… again, what’s not to like? Plus, for the adult reading this book, this is like the primer course for how to read with expression- you can’t read this book in a boring way. It’s not possible.

smollin.com

3. Strega Nonaby Tomie dePaola. Nevermind that this is sort of a cautionary tale at a closer, adult look. A pot that cooks pasta forever? Could an 8 year old vegetarian wish for anything else? I still love this book. It has rhythm, legend, buildup, and a mysterious character. Sold.

tomie.com

4. Blueberries for Salby Robert McCloskey. This one inspired in me a lifelong dream of berry picking. A yet unrealized dream of berry picking. Minus the bear. These days when I think about it I get the song, “Blueberry Hill” in my head, which I don’t exactly love.

thereadingnook.com

5. Love you Forever by Robert Munsch. Okay, who doesn’t melt when they read this book. Seriously, who, the Grinch? I’m pretty sure even his heart would melt if he read it with his momma too. I actually was chosen to read this book aloud in front of my elementary school. A ham in the making, I was. I am also, in fact, the baby of the family, so I like the part about always being a baby. Never grow up. Ever.

amazon.com

I also loved: The Lorax, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, all of my Sesame Street books, Madeline, the Velveteen Rabbit, Caps for Sale, Old Turtle, Corduroy, and If you Give a Mouse a Cookie.

What was your favorite book as a child? Do you still read childrens’ books (To your own kids, at work, to nieces or nephews, etc.)?

Meri

Posted in books, family, kids, lists | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

Sticky Wicket

“Sometimes to walk in shaded parts of Manhattan is to be inserted into a Magritte: the street is night while the sky is day.”
— Joseph O’Neill (Netherland)

Kirchner's "Street Berlin"

I love that quote, and I love the whole novel Netherland. I was listening to NPR a few years ago and Joseph O’Neill was talking about this book because it had just come out. I immediately requested it from the library, and a short 9-10 months later, it was mine (I really really hate owning books, so I wait and wait and wait.)

Notice- I did not paste a Magritte work of art. Why? Well, first off, I don’t like Magritte much. More importantly, though, is because when I first read that quote I just loved it, but I pictured the sort of eerie city gone wrong I remembered from this Kirchner painting. I’ve always been extremely drawn to expressionism above other periods of art and painting, and I think it has to due with the colors and emotion. The quote above, for me, paints words like expressionists paint pictures.

Here’s my elevator speech on why to read Netherland.

It includes post 9/11 Manhattan, (Indian) Cricket Leagues (this book was where I learned some of the best cricket slang and expressions ever), an incredibly eccentric but quintessentially “New York” hotel, family, divorce, London, and a Trinidadian and enigmatic character that is one of the most fascinating characters I’ve ever read in my life.

Have you read this book? Do you like modern art? Do you ever hear about a book and obsess about it until you get your hands on it? What’s your favorite painting or work of art? Do you see the way that visual arts and literary arts go together too?

I’m full of questions, and I feel full of life.

Happy September!

Meri

 

 

Posted in arts, books, quotes | Tagged , , , , , , | 40 Comments

Fruits of my labor

It may be a holiday, but its still a Monday, which means only one thing around Meri-Goes-Round…

  • Try an exotic fruit:

  • Go to the library: Current list includes: James Baldwin’s Notes from a Native Son, Naomi Wolf’s The Beauty Myth, and season 3 of Californication.
  • Make more stencils like these:

  • Order pictures from Snapfish (they are a penny a piece right now!)
  • Try out new tea (Bigelow’s Pumpkin Spice)
  • Spend time with momma!
  • Continue Mad Men Marathon with Man-go-round (Thanks Netflix!)
  • Share some more favorite quotes and books with all of you!
So what do you all have planned for this week? Do you like papaya? 
Meri
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Posted in books, lists, produce, quotes | 40 Comments