Creative Wanderings

Another Monday

It’s another Monday. Once again, I’m sitting here at my computer, looking for jobs. Applying for jobs. Doing miscellaneous work related to jobs and job searching. I may or may not be watching “The Office.” I have emails to send to prospective openings, calls to wait for from past interviews, and an arguably promising offer to be a substitute teacher at a near (ish) school district. I think of ways I can be an interesting teacher, a dedicated worker in whatever role I take on… yet it is essentially all in my head. What am I supposed to be? Where am I supposed to be? Am I becoming what and who I need to be as I go through this seemingly endless period of … waiting? I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned about finding satisfaction with who I am, regardless of outside impulses. It certainly does help that I’m dancing Read more…

By Erica, ago

Swirling leaves

So earlier this year, as summer was first beginning to fade into fall, I decided that this year I would like Fall. It’s not that I had anything against it in the past, but I’m not sure that I necessarily loved it. It is amazing what a conscious attitude choice can do! Not only are the fall leaves more beautiful, the weather is fantastic! I do miss my fall-appropriate shoes and scarves (not sure I’m ready for another trip to the storage unit to forage for them…) but hey, that’s a minor thing.  Another quaking aspen picture (unedited) I also happened to see this fabulous quote this morning. It seems to fit pretty well with the idea of leaves and fall and swirling up.  Love…roots up the will like a leaf, and sweeps the whole heart into the abyss. Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880)

By Erica, ago

“Romantic” Getaway

Now here is a fun story. When Amber and I went to the State Fair, we totally lucked out! See, the first day of the fair they had a vendor tent where people were handing out free samples of their local wares. We totally made the rounds through the tent, trying everything from garlic olive oil dip (pretty awesome on peaches), ice cream sandwiches, local honey, meat, granola, salsa, apples…. to cheese and cake and all sorts of yummy stuff! As we were heading out to see the actual fair, we passed a KSL booth with a drawing for.. well I’m not sure I paid much attention to what it was…. but it was for a weekend getaway to Park City. Amber and I both put our names in, just for the fun of it. We said we’d take each other if one of us actually got drawn. Guess who Read more…

By Erica, ago

Utah State Fair

Still playing catch up…. how about some State Fair action?  Tight rope walker Unicycle on the tightrope Backflip on a tightrope! So the first time he did this, he landed off-centered and  had to hop down. It looked really painful actually (poor man), but he got back on and tried again! I caught him mid-air in his successful flip.  High diving men!! You better believe we had great seats for this one 🙂 They had springboards and these teeny tiny platforms … I think the highest was 3 meters!  Not sure I would have been so chill with diving off a tiny platform with the wind blowing as strong as it is … see those flags? But hey, they’re professionals. And attractive…. yeah. 😀  Awesome Also awesome…. although it would have been better if I’d caught the dive instead of the take off.  Goofy “dives”! We went and said hi Read more…

By Erica, ago

Next stop … rainy Swiss Days

Heare ye, heare ye! Welcome to ye olde towne Midway!  So happy to be out in the rain… with an umbrella. That made it great.  For whatever reason, I felt like these wood carvings really embodied the European spirit of Swiss Days.  Tree spirits? Thanks to Kyle, I always notice canes. Should have tried my cane strut with these beauties! Old world charm on a tent Ok, this is a little racy, perhaps, but I went to this festival days after my friend Jenelle got married. So this is for her!  This is for me…. This one too! And who doesn’t want to tell time in chocolates? Mustard, saurkraut, pickles, sausage, cheese, and pumpernickel or rye (not sure which it was)   Knockwurst sandwiches!! This is Jeff’s happy face but tired of pictures… Lines in the food area and the weather clearing up! It was the first feeling of fall. Read more…

By Erica, ago

Weddings!

Before I get into this picture post, I just wanted to mention something. I was working on my computer settings and when I went to my blog, it ended up doing an address search for it. One of the post results it pulled up was about this past February/March or so… and those associated events. (Yes, I could be more vague than that.) I clicked on it. One part of me was curious if the pictures would still be posted since I’d deleted them from my computer hard files. They were. And I just have to say maybe two things. 1. I didn’t feel any anxiety looking at them. Do you know how huge that is!??!?? 2. He didn’t look at all like I remembered. That surprised me. Did I literally see him differently than he really was? I think the short answer of that, both literal and metaphorically is yes. Which Read more…

By Erica, ago

A few things to share…

This great quote that came up today about being an educator. I know I’m not currently one, but I still aspire to become a professor somehow, someday.The first duty of a lecturer—to hand you after an hour’s discourse a nugget of pure truth to wrap up between the pages of your notebooks, and keep on the mantelpiece forever. Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) I am officially in love with Piano Guys! Jeff and I saw their concert last night and they were absolutely spectacular. I’m still waiting to hear back from jobs. Maybe the one in D.C. is the one I need to wait for? Apparently it’s in a pretty nifty area, from what my sources tell me. It’s so nice having family in places where they can vouch for me. It’ll be interesting to see what happens. I’m super behind in posting pictures from all my fun adventures! Like Swiss Days and the Read more…

By Erica, ago

All things Greek

The SLC Greek Festival is coming up this weekend and I am super excited! I loved visiting Greece, and I’m pretty sure they were my favorite food experience. Here’s some tantalizing tidbits I chowed down on in Greece two years ago. Can’t wait to get some food this weekend! Meat. Chicken, lamb, sausage, etc = yum! Moussaka Baklava. Oh yes, baklava!

By Erica, ago

Oh Brother…

In case I haven’t mentioned it before, I have seven brothers.  Yup. 7. Brothers. Boys, every one of them. And as the only girl, I think some may wonder how I escaped that experience being so… feminine. I imagine my mom had a big hand in that, especially since she got me involved in dance. THANKS MOM!!! In so many ways, though, I’m very not girly. I was reminded of that today when I stopped by the store to get some prep items for the big bridesmaid day tomorrow. Biotin – to help my hair grow faster and better. Veet – to remove unwanted leg hair. Yes, this is the first time in my 26 yrs of life that I have ever used something besides a razor to manage my legs! Nail polish – ok, so I’ve bought this before, but I rarely wear it. It’s the maintenance… takes too much Read more…

By Erica, ago

Dreams

In my task of rebuilding myself, I find that I am in need of some dreams. Or, perhaps I have the dreams but have not articulated them very well. So here is my list of dreams, in no particular order. (Except perhaps my first dream.) I dream of… 1. Being a wife and mother 2. Getting a piece of writing published  3. Swimming with dolphins 4. Learning how to write in calligraphy 5. Traveling to a tropical location… maybe Costa Rica? 6. Visiting my brother’s family in London 7. Owning my own home, which will have a beautiful, bright kitchen and a big library 8. Becoming a skilled amateur photographer 9. Learning how to create visual art (sketch, paint) 10. Performing as often as possible with dance groups What do you dream of doing and becoming? How did you figure out what your dreams are?

By Erica, ago