eggs benedict...

i'm a survivor of runaway bride syndrome. well, the julia roberts version anyway.

it's really easy to meet someone and become very interested in their tastes, their preferences, their experiences. it's easy for some of us girls to lose our identity.

i've met such interesting people in my lifetime. i've absorbed interesting music, art, design, books, hobbies, sports, religion, politics, philosophy. fascinating people have helped me build my unique and quirky ME-ness.

i believe that it's a good thing to make friends with different types of people. my goal is to become a kaleidoscope of thoughts and tastes: i like variety. i want to select from everyone those things which intrigue me--that i want to explore.

however, i've been known to lose my own identity in relationships. i get so engrossed in the exploring, and i'm so easy going about it, that suddenly i realize one day that i'm nowhere to be found.

a couple of years ago, i spent a good deal of time exploring to see what my own flavours and tastes are and answering the question: what do i bring to the table? i like to compare the process to the scene in runaway bride, during the montage, when juila roberts' character is tasting eggs prepared in different ways because she's always eaten her eggs the way her current fiance does. she has no idea what she likes.

exploring and collecting are important. self discovery is important. hanging on to your identity in any relationship is equally important, at least in my book.

today, i was sifting through music thinking about what sort of music a new friend of mine would like when a really loud alarm went off in my head. this is how it starts and a way of thinking that becomes a habit. instead of choosing what i thought he might like, i stopped to consider what i, the girl who came before, what did i want to hear?

i must remain mindful that i have something to offer, and by the way, i'll have the eggs benedict.

Barkus Dog Parade 2010...

IMG_1151, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

when signs of mardi gras start to appear, i start searching out the details for the barkus dog parade... a st. louis puppy mardi gras treat!

the streets fill with pups donned in radical to simple costuming. often, their owners are wearing matching finery. it really is a fantastic spectacle to behold.

the children are giddy and their excitement levels escalate to rolling giggles when, at every turn, they bounce into a costumed pup.

this is one of my favourite st. louis events!

the mirrors

IMG_1798, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

when Missy and i took our little trip to Chi-town in september, we stopped at ikea. holy moly! that place is amazing!

i picked up these spiffy little mirrors to paint and hang in my apartment. of course, i just got to painting them. i thoroughly enjoyed slopping around in the paint, and naturally, i had to document the process with big daddy and the new lens, sally. :)

i hung these beotches tonight, and they are totally macgyvered. but, i dig em!

words fly willy nilly...

FYI: Osama Bin Laden did not influence me to become a belly dancer.

i started belly dancing in 2002 because i had always wanted to try it and i like to dance.

this is the biggest load of bull that reeks from here to high heaven.

normally, i pay no mind to mr. o'reilly and his rantings. however, this entire piece is incendiary and really burns my shimmy.

this is the link. satisfy your curiosity.

might we all just be a little more careful about the statements that we make, please?

i'm done. thank you very much.

going all in...

i've been singing the praises of risk and going for broke for three or four years. i still am.

but, i felt something from my old life today. something i recognized and quickly invited to leave.

hesitation. fear. caution.

any way you label it, i don't like it. but, i understand why it showed up. i've had a difficult few years in the personal relationship arena. one too many skid marks on the soul has left me a bit skittish.

experience is invaluable and something i crave and encourage, but it also steals naivety and slips in "what ifs" when they're not welcome. i think i'm doing exceptionally well, considering my track record.

i've got a lot of faith in myself, but in someone else? that may be a little more difficult to come by than it used to be.

at least i keep showing up to play and take the risk.

i still believe in going all in.

don't let your luggage define your travels...

my passionate affair with canada continues and only grows deeper.

tonight i was able to see the opening ceremonies of the vancouver winter olympics... i was so grateful that my friend taped it! i could have watched every second of it... from the entrance of the native tribes to the great one lighting the torch outside.

luckily my tour guide edited for me, making sure that i saw the best parts. i laughed, i cried and i felt a swelling pride for canada. it was a spectacular display, truly.

then we watched figure skating... wow. what a night. really. stellar!

i know that everywhere, everyone has posted their highlights... i'd post so many, you could probably just rewatch the whole display. so, here are a couple of my favourite parts of the opening ceremonies and a little video on vancouver i highly recommend...

and duuuude, i really want a pair of those maple leaf mittens!

Shane Koyczan, We Are More

k.d. lang... hallelujah

bending light...

bending light, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i took the day off in anticipation of an exhausting weekend and ended up going with a friend to the science center to shoot for an article she is writing.

i had a blast! and, they have a truly awesome mayan coffee. :) click the pick for more.

btw, dinosaurs look funny with feathers.

building on the riverfront...

DSC05410, originally uploaded by MisfitHue.

i don't know what this building used to be or what it is now, but it's one of my favourite structures on the riverfront.

a building with words on it? oh heck YEAH! and, it's got a TON of interesting little angles and molding... even each individual brick is unique and freaking spectacular.

i would love to get inside.

(click to see more)