100 happy days :: day 100

there is something about the low, swampy wooded area at the end of our lake. the trees grow low and rather twisty, turny. even if it's raining or windy, it's always still and quiet there, a sense of waiting hanging in the air, but not a menacing one, more a kind of deep patience. and in the air, there is a vibration of primeval magic that you can feel, but which feels just out of reach, beyond your grasp, but still hanging there, almost tangible. it's in the green. it's in the quiet. it's how it's always still. one of those places where you just feel the magic. and you believe in it, even if you can't quite capture it. and my 100th happy day is a happiness that i have one of those places right here at home and i can go down there anytime and fill up my soul with magic.

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and that's it, that was my 100 happy days project. it got me through a bit of a tough time and i think it really helped. it can be beneficial to take a moment to think about the little things that make you happy every day. doing it makes it a habit. one that i hope that i will continue even if i don't continue it as a post or a tweet. i think one of the things that i found is that often my moment of happiness was a moment of feeling grateful - for sunshine, for a beautiful view, for the time to take the back way, for cats, for a flower in bloom, for noticing in general.

but, in all honesty, it also felt a bit heavy at times. because not every day is filled with happiness. some days are hard and you just want them to be over. and i find myself generally feeling too earnest and righteous and not light-hearted and funny anymore. so maybe i need to find a new project that will help me find my way back to a lighter, more buoyant view of the world.

secret 30 - the local news

when i was a little girl, not a whole lot older than this, t.v. was a relatively new thing for everyone to have in their home. and we had a t.v. and i suppose it got a couple of channels. the local CBS affiliate for sure and probably a PBS station. i can even recall the rabbit ears perched on top of the t.v., lengthened with a bit of tinfoil because that must have helped the reception some.

someone must have discussed the local news and the national news within earshot of me. walter kronkite was the national news man and he seemed a bit stern and serious. i remember les and gina something (funny how only their first names come to me), a husband-wife team, were the local news people.

well, apparently, the whole concept of local and national got a little fuzzy for me because in my head, local meant that les and gina (who i was apparently on a first name basis with, undoubtedly due to them being local) could see me right there in our living room. so, if i had been upstairs taking a bath and all of my clothes were downstairs in the laundry basket by the washing machine, i had to sneak, wrapped up in a towel, behind my dad's gold chair if les and gina were on, because i wouldn't want them to see me all dripping wet and just wearing a towel.

lest you think i'm completely mad, i didn't think everyone on t.v. could see me, just the local news people. and maybe captain 11, who was also the weather man. and a bit creepy in retrospect.

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and that's it, my last secret. it's been a long month, but i made it. and i hope you've enjoyed this little bit of insight into my madness. and if you want to do 30 secrets too, please let me know, i'd love to read yours. but again, pace yourself, even if you make a list beforehand, it's hard work and you'll find you don't always feel like writing about one of the secrets you've scribbled on your list. but it is actually worth it. i feel a sense of accomplishment. hmm, now which one was a lie...

one small step for julie, one giant step for austerity april

i would like to share that because it is austerity april, yesterday, i tested myself and allowed myself to meander through the duty free in kastrup (one of the best in the world, lacking only hendrick's gin (loved by a small handful of people, all over the world)).  sounds dangerous, doesn't it?

and i would like to report that i remained strong in the face of this, despite being a known and diagnosed perfumaholic:

it's the summer line from kenzo

tea - silk - magnolia

light and gorgeous (magnolia is best)

(i didn't say i resisted TRYING them on)

(that's what they're THERE for)

but aren't you all proud of me?

i think i'll extend austerity april into may, just for fun.

but i will do a new perfume review soon, after all, i've still got all this to go (and more):

made my day!!!

thank you blogger!!! please accept these strawberries dipped in chocolate! you totally made my day and prior to this it was a pretty shitty day, but now it's awesome!!!

i wonder if this is because i mentioned sex yesterday?

i did it!

i'm on etsy! as a seller, not just a buyer. go and check it out!

i just listed my first five items, including the famous eyeball pillows.