MUSES FLED

Shen Yun: A Journey to China

2010-02-04T18:59:00.000-08:00

This week has flown by in a flurry of activity, but I really wanted to sit down and write about Shen Yun, the show that Rhiannon, Mom and I saw last Saturday night.

The evening started with an amazing dinner at Bistro Aix. Mom had some scallops "aixoise", Rhiannon devoured their duck breast and I had the roasted chicken or coq au vin if you prefer. ^_^ (Dessert was a decadent apple cobbler a lá mode.) Yum!

From there, we headed to the Times-Union Center for Performing Arts. As we made our way to our seats in the balcony, we were stopped by an usher who informed us that we wouldn't be able to sit in the seats we'd purchased (which were, for the record, front & center of the balcony). Apparently, the show would be utilizing projectors and the staff handled all of that manually to ensure timing was absolutely perfect. We made our way down to the box office to figure out where we'd actually be able to sit and were upgraded to seats on the main level in the front middle section. Score!

I wasn't really sure what to expect, but from the opening number, I was captivated. The music, the backdrops, the costumes and the exquisite grace of the dancers themselves made it impossible to look away.

Over the course of the evening, the three of us were taken on journey through the different cultures of China, educated about their beliefs (namely Falun Dafa) and allowed to relieve the intense emotions of some of Chinese most ancient stories.

All too soon, the show was over. Before leaving us to rejoin the world of the everyday, they mentioned that their show changes every year. I can't wait to see what they've got in store next. If you ever get the opportunity to check them out, I strongly encourage you to take it!

'Nuff Said

2010-02-03T10:30:00.001-08:00

Moving Day

2010-01-31T13:12:00.000-08:00

After years of frustration living in a house she’s never really liked, my mom made the command decision to get the heck out of dodge. Which translated into Chris, myself, David, Inho and Blake spending half the weekend getting all their stuff moved in the new place.

I’m really digging the new digs. ^_^ I think it’s a lot more functional, and I’m (dare I say it?) jealous. I’d definitely be ok with our first house having a similar floor plan.

It all flows together really well (of course, we worked hard rearranging the furniture until it did).

I felt very Riker on Saturday. She was all like, “Make it so, Number One.” And I did.

Food, Friends and Fushigi Yugi

2010-01-24T18:13:00.000-08:00

Chris and I spent a pretty relaxing weekend in St. Augustine for once, with just one event that brought us up to Jacksonville. I'd like to say that I was productive in doing some stuff around the house something, but I spent a good portion of the weekend camped out on the couch with Chris and the fur kids enjoying a Fushigi Yugi marathon instead.

The series was one of my first forays into manga back in high school and I'm still really fond of the series (both manga and anime). Yu Watase is a skilled artist/storyteller and I can't help but relate to the characters in each of her series.

Last night was the final Bon Voyage Bash for Lara and Jason and everyone had a fabulous time. Between repurposing the décor from our office party, sumo suits brought in by Lara & Jason and a great mix of people from all over Jacksonville, I definitely feel like they're ready to begin this next adventure, knowing they have the love and support of their friends and family. (Apparently they're also taking wagers on who's going to show up to visit them in New Zealand.) Let's see if I can twist Chris's arm in the months ahead. ^_~

Sneak Peak of Lara's Bon Voyage Bash

2010-01-22T08:12:00.000-08:00

Don't have time for a proper update right now, but wanted to post some of my favorite pics from the bash at our office yesterday:

Weather challenges us to perservere

2010-01-11T13:49:00.000-08:00

Chris and I woke up early on Saturday and Sunday to train, despite weather that made me want to unplug the alarm, crank up a space heater and vow never to leave my bed.

As I’ve mentioned, the Gate River Run is just two short months away and I’m definitely feeling the pressure–enough to drive me from the warm comfort of my bed to brave temperatures more akin to Michigan in order to keep on our training schedule.

While we haven’t formally mentioned any resolutions for the New Year, a half marathon is the goal we’ll be striving toward together. The Gate River Run is merely serving as a stepping stone (actually more of a significant hurdle) toward reaching that larger goal of just over 13 miles.

I'm definitely proud of the strength of our determination thus far, and looking forward to a great week of training ahead.

Carpe viem!

Wooly Bully

2010-01-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

The Raiders, the group name of the guys in my brother’s vehicle unit in Afghanistan, will be getting some warm, woolen caps from me in the very near future. It’s my first project of the New Year and it’s pretty timely, based on the weather reports I’ve been getting from Kabul.

I’m using an oatmeal colored wool-ease blend (I was told straight acrylic might be dangerous to the guys) from Lion’s Brand Yarn Thick & Quick.

It took me about 2 ½ hours to finish the first one, so I’m hoping that with the weekend nearly upon me, I’ll be able to at least have four finished by Sunday evening. A pretty lofty goal considering Chris and I have some packing to assist with, but I’m pretty sure I’ll at least be able to finish the second and third.

The tricky part of these will be finding a place to do custom patches for the hats. The guys want their names on the hats as well as the name of their unit. While I’m flattered at their faith in me, I can’t embroider so I need to find someone who can create custom patches for me.

I’m going to be bugging the military surplus stores in Jacksonville as well as the seamstress who bustled my wedding dress.

Wish me luck!

Brunet-García's Holiday Project: Ho Ho Hope!

2009-12-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

I don't often post work-related items on my personal blog, mostly because I don't want to echo posts that I write on our blog, Culture Fried, but I was really excited about the finished product of our Holiday Project, Ho Ho Hope.

We, as a company, have noticed the belt tightening that has been happening at nonprofits in Jacksonville and wanted to do something to help add to the spirit of hope that is supposed to be rampant this time of year. So we looked into programs in Jacksonville that were focusing on providing items of necessity to the residents of Jacksonville.

We've always had a soft spot for kids (as you may see in our work with the Cathedral Arts Project from time-to-time), so when we saw Second Harvest's Backpack Program, it felt like the perfect fit.

We borrowed a little inspiration from another jolly soul in the food industry for our holiday card, collected some food stuffs and a backpack and off we went.

Kedgar created an awesome video that explained the program in a fun way, Diane did our voice-over and we sent out the cards to our clients and friends. It was a fun & inspired project to work on & it reinforced my love of this new company I call home. How many jobs give you the opportunity to work on the things you're truly passionate about?

I encourage you all, if you have even $5 you can spare, to consider donating it to this wonderful program. For more information on the program, visit: http://tiny.cc/hohohope.

Carpe Viem: Seize the Road

2009-12-17T05:58:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago when I first decided I wanted to tackle running (and more specifically the Gate River Run), I stumbled across the phrase "Carpe Viem" in an article in Runner's World. To my surprise, that short little phrase became a driving force in my psyche that year and I ran two 15ks, the Gate River Run was the first and then we tackled the Minnie Marathon at Epcot.

After a year break (with wedding planning, honeymooning, graduations and moving across the state), Chris and I are once again ready to take up the challenge inherent in that phrase and let it lead us to another year of exciting experiences.

We began training in earnest for our first big race of 2010, the Gate River Run which will be held on March 13th of next year. That gives us 87 days to work up to a 9.5 mile run. I'm excited (and slightly anxious) about meeting our goal, but we've done it before. It's just going to take some dedication.

Our first training run was on Tuesday night, in wonderful weather that turned (quite unexpectedly) into rain. I don't know about you, but it's been awhile since I had any occasion to go cavorting in the rain and I have to say I rather enjoyed the experience. :)

Last night was our second day and my muscles are feeling the results of that run today. (But that's the point, right?) At any rate, I feel like we're off to a great start and I'm looking forward to our progress.

Wish us luck!

Triumph Is My Middle Name

2009-11-30T19:54:00.000-08:00

And after a feverish holiday weekend of writing, I'm thrilled, elated, ecstatic to say, "I'm a winner!" The thrill of victory is a heady rush, but one I shall enjoy! My final tally this evening bumped me to a strong 50,080 word finish and I'd love to regale you with the chilling play-by-play, but my fingers, they are a-cramping and I'm bedward bound. Ooh-rah!

Rushing toward Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T07:47:00.000-08:00

Had an interesting weekend, once I worked through whatever stomach bug/food poisoning that had me down on Friday. Chris and I hung out with Cindy (Mom #3). We ended up having lunch at Bono’s and then heading to Epic to see the newest movie in the “Twilight Saga,” New Moon.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the movie. While I enjoyed the Twilight movie, I always felt like they could have done more. The cast and crew of New Moon definitely took it to the next level with the movie. So much so, that on Sunday, Chris and I drove up to Jacksonville and I went to see the movie again with my little sister. ^_^

I’ve been cranking out words for NaNoWriMo like a crazy person. I’ve got seven days left to get to 50,000 and I’m making the goal–no ifs, ands or buts about it. It would be a bit easier if it were my only project, however. I’ve started working on Christmas gifts and I’m on quite a deadline, between needing to mail stuff out early to Leonard in Seattle and Sean in Afghanistan.

Been thinking about Sean a lot lately, wondering how he’s weathering the challenges in Afghanistan. With Thanksgiving this week and Christmas a little over a month away, I just can’t sink fully into the holiday fanfare without him here. It seems incomplete somehow.

We’ve been trying to send him packages on a regular basis, but it’s hard because we’re not really sure what to send. He’s not really on base very often, so we can’t send movies, books or magazine to him like we did when he was in Iraq. I know that he’s having to deal with some pretty rough climate conditions, but not much else. The lack of communication and information is frustrating, even though I realize that it’s necessary. Ugh.

We're all really looking forward to him being back home and safe...

And the forecast reads, "Nostalgia"

2009-11-19T13:16:00.000-08:00

Feeling nostalgic today for reasons I can’t quite fathom. Was even tempted to stop and park by the Castillo de San Marco on my way to work this morning. The sun was already rising and I couldn’t help but be dazzled by the scene that was painted, as if just for me, over the Intracoastal Waterway.

Although it really comes as no surprise, one of the things I love most about living in St. Augustine is the easy access to the water. Though I may not go as often as I might like, I love stealing moments away to walk on the beach or sailing with my grandfather. Being on or near the water is often where I feel the most in tune with the world around me.

Some people are afflicted with wanderlust; others prefer to bury their roots deep and embrace a legacy. Fitting in with neither of those descriptions, I probably fall in best with the crowd that has a sort of sea fever, fitting in everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. Although I’m not quite as fond of the phraseology of the expression as it seems awful to associate such a wonderful mixture of chaos and whimsy with the likes of an illness, but I can’t ignore the “rightness” of it as I often feel sick with longing when I'm away from the water for any extended period.

I was a claustrophobic creature whilst living in Tallahassee. Though a beautiful parcel of land, I couldn’t help but feel landlocked, trapped due to the absence of any significant source of water nearby. I think John Masefield describes the sensation rather aptly in his poem, Sea Fever:

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

At any rate, I digress, I ramble, I dither. Probably should be taking a crack at those "real" words I'm supposed to be after.

Catching Up with the Muse

2009-11-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

The past two weeks have been surprisingly robust and full of amazing activities. I’m still holding on to my steady progress with NaNoWriMo and really beginning to feel like my characters are gaining solidarity.

I’m embarrassed to admit I managed to accidentally write myself into one of my characters. I’ve heard of writers drawing on their own experiences or personality in the creation of stories, but this was a first for me. As soon as I had realized what was happening, my knee-jerk was to kill her off and get her the heck out of my story. For the moment, however, she remains unscathed, as I couldn’t quite figure out how to introduce her in one scene only to kill her off in the next.

Had a fabulous weekend hanging out with my bestie, Em and her boyfriend. It was my first time meeting Captain John and as it turns out, I’m already rather fond of him.

We spent the weekend traipsing about St. Augustine, chilling at the beach, watching the FSU game and heading up to Jacksonville to catch some grub at Einstein Bros. Bagels and a movie (Cirque de Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant). Wasn’t expecting the movie to be part of a series, so the ending kind of left me feeling cheated, but I’ve resolved to hunt down the books to chase down that ever-elusive happy ending.

Still bumbling my way through a battle scene in my writing, and I’ve managed to somehow injure my leading character. Bollocks. Ah well, I’m sure he’ll manage to move around (if gingerly) for the next few writing sessions while I resolve what to do with my errant lady character. Wish me luck!

Under the Weather

2009-11-05T18:54:00.001-08:00

Feeling subpar this evening and it's definitely hampering my writing. I've got a fever, I'm struggling to keep my eyes open and my conscience won't let me rest until I've reached a decent word count today.

Keep your fingers crossed for me tonight.

I need a little love and help from the collective cosmos.

PR by day, SyFy by night...(NaNaWriMo rejoices!)

2009-11-04T19:10:00.000-08:00

I'm a public relations and socal media specialist at a multicultural agency in Jacksonville, so it's safe to say that a large portion of my day is spent writing in one form or another. In fact, that assumption is the whole reason I got involved in the field of public relations to begin with.

I'd already explored a B.A. in creative writing but wanted to make sure I wouldn't go hungry. I tried out a few classes of varying disciplines, stumbled into a public relations class and never looked back. Definitely one of my better decisions (helps that I LOVE my agency and my job!) ^_^

NaNoWriMo is my ticket to embracing the writing voice I used to have when pursuing works of fiction in my creative writing workshops. It's been a great study in discipline already and I think some of the habits I'm developing (such as setting aside blocks of time to write each day) are going to stick with me long after NaNoWriMo has come and gone.

I'm already making plans in my head for next year, and the first week of the event isn't even over. With a schedule that has me juggling family, friends and other social obligations, it's really nice to be able to have a specific block of time dedicating 100% to doing something I love to do.

7,250 words down. 42,750 words to go.

Wish me luck, friends!

Bridge Town Rocks Ann O'Malley's & NaNoWriMo Continues

2009-11-03T20:21:00.000-08:00

I got a little bit of a late start in my writing for NaNoWriMo this evening because I was supporting some friends as their band (Bridgetown) played during open mic night at Ann O'Malley's. Now I know you might think that I'd be a little biased, as I'm good friend with these gentlemen, but these kids ROCK MY SOCKS!

In addition to bringing the cheers, WooHoos and general groupieness, I also videotaped their set. How's that for multi-talented?

Anyway...that's why I got my late start tonight. BUT...it was totally worth it. Not only did I get to hang out with my peeps, but I also manged to get in my word count...a whopping 1,776 words. According to my handy-dandy calculator, that means that to date (you know, all three days), I've written 5, 359. That means I only have 44,641 left to go. Not too shabby for the first week and first go round.

I've already got my writing schedule planned for tomorrow (the first day I've had a plan since Sunday). Chris will be attending Art Walk with JCCI, so I'll be staying late at work (with laptop in tow) and cranking out my words in the lovely Brunet-Garcia garden.

Hooray for having a plan! :)

NaNoWriMo: Day the Second

2009-11-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

And so it's with a tired, but happy heart that I say that I've completed the second day of NaNoWriMo. I'm not really sure where my characters are taking me as I chronicle their thoughts, actions and emotions, but I can tell you that I think they've got a pretty nifty adventure hidden away somewhere in the wrinkles of my mind.

Someone find me an iron!

I'm almost surprised that I've kept my promise to myself thus far. I know it's only two days in, but it's amazing how life sort of sneaks up on you, pulling you away from the writing that you've promised to take care of.

Dinner with my family was definitely time well-spent (and scrumptious! I love LongHorn Steakhouse) & I learned something important and encouraging. I can still have a life this week AND meet my personal goals. Ooh rah! (As my brother in the Marines would say).

And I didn't even miss not getting to see House. Weird.

Sorry that tonight's entry is so short...my eyelids are threatening to extinguish my last coherent threads of thought.

Happy writing!

And NaNoWriMo begins...

2009-11-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

So I've joined the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge this year, which pretty much means I've promised myself that during the month of November, I'm going to write 50,000 words. For you number junkies out there, that means (with a little rounding) that I need to write 1,667 words everyday for thirty days in order to meet my goal.

As if writing 1,667 words everyday weren't enough, there are also some challenges hidden within the month that often times people don't stop to consider.

1. The only words that count are those that are part of my story. So these words that I'm typing right now don't count. Bummer.

2. Typing on a computer means that you have easy access to get sidetracked (especially if you have a web browser open). So if I want to hit my goal, that means no tweeting, scoping friends' activities/pics on facebook, or reading web comics (WereGeek, Devil'sPanties, Looking for Group, Penny Arcade, Girl Genius) until after I've put in my time.

3. Family & friends don't really understand the draw of the contest. So what do you get if you make the goal of 50,000 words. Do you, like, win a prize or something. The answer (sadly, sort of) is no. I don't win a prize. BUT...I do get to say that I was able to write approximately 175 pages of a novel in just 30 days. How many people can say that?

4. A pretty big holiday falls in the middle of all this madness. Give you a hint...it centers around an inordinately large bird whose entrails have been removed and replaced with stuffing (or dressing depending on where you're from). That's right. Thanksgiving. Kind of a big deal, if your family is anything like mine. I don't think they'll be giving me a rain check on the family gathering just because I have some writing "thing" to do.

5. Every writer I've ever met has an internal editor. This ridiculously critical inner self that is convinced that no sentence is ever descriptive enough or believes that the plot is too shallow or that you, the writer, is too focused on "telling" rather than "showing." Quite frankly, this is the biggest challenge of all...learning to tell that pompous, self-righteous, overachieving bastard to take a hike (at least for the month of November).

With all that being said, I'm feeling pretty confident. (It still being the first day and all). I've managed to write a whopping 1,822 words despite distractions, getting locked out of the location where we had our "Write-In" and helping some young writers get started on their 9,000 word goal for the month.

Only 29 days left to go...

Pixel Peterson...our newest edition!

2009-04-30T06:07:00.001-07:00

Pixel is an approximately 2 month old Lilac Point Siamese mix and completed our family puzzle yesterday at around 2:00 p.m. We now have 2 people, 2 pups and 2 cats. In my opinion, the perfect amount of love, laughter, fun and fur. ^_^

Since picking her up from the vet yesterday she's learned to do the following:

Jump out of her box (and then scamper around my office)
Chase miniature whiffle balls
Scratch on a scratching post (and any available carpet)
Chase her tail
Chase yarn
Climb (or jump?) on the bed in our guest bedroom

A quick learner, we have high hopes for a quick integration into the Peterson pack!

Hooray for New Beginnings!

2009-04-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Ugh! So I had a meltdown yesterday and in a fit of tears nearly destroyed an entire closet full of clothes. Chris and I took a break from our regular workout/eating habits in the weeks since our wedding/honeymoon in order to try and put our lives & home back in order.

Yesterday, with fear and trepidation, I stepped on the scale and paled at the difference pre & post wedding. Knowing that I had only a short while to get ready before meeting up with some friends for a girls' afternoon of Lunch & Volunteering, I started going through my closet in an attempt to find something that made me feel the exact opposite of how the scale had made me feel just a few short minutes earlier.

Ten minutes later, with angry tears, frustration and thoughts of "I feel like a cow..." I went hysterical. Throwing clothes, hurling insults at my reflection and a modest little tantrum later, I realized that I was being ridiculous...threw on jeans & a t-shirt and went out with the girls vowing to making smarter food choices and throw in some exercise.

The rest of the day sailed smoothly on and I took back control from the mindless little eating machine that I'd been in the days since the wedding. Chris is absolutely right about the fact that the little changes that we make add up.

He and I got up early this morning (5:30 or so), took the puppies for a 1/2 mile walk, ate a quick & healthy breakfast and headed to the gym. After a fifteen minute fight with my locker, Chris and I ran/walked about 2 miles on the gym's indoor track. The original plan had been to walk the whole distance, but my frustration from the scuffle with my locker had me fired up, so I ran a few laps to expend the energy & break a sweat.

In other measures to recapture good habits, I refrained from bringing tea to work, packed my lunch and water bottle. I've got snacks & a good meal to get me through the day and a plan for dinner & snacks when I get home.

Hooray for new beginnings!

Crochet Super Star

2009-04-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

My star blanket for Eli has been coming along rather nicely and based on my current rate of progress, I'm expecting it to be completed by Sunday. Then I'll wash it, block it and mail it off to my brother for his little boy's delight.

In other WIPes, I'm still working on squares for the afghan that I'll be donating to the folks at Covenant Hospice. I've got a pretty cool Spring vibe that I've been manifesting, so I'm looking forward to the completed blanket. I hope to have it finished by the end of this month.

I need to start limiting how many new projects I take on. I've still got an unfinished Octopus for Chris & a hook case that just needs to be stitched together for myself. ::shakes head and laughs:: It seems, I just can't help myself. There are too many nifty patterns & projects out there calling to my inner spunk & creativity.

Aisling Star for Eli

2009-04-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

I've picked up my crochet again with a vengeance and one of the things I've been working on is a baby blanket for my new nephew Eli Christian. The blanket is a little Starghan pattern I found on Ravelry.com.

The lovely blanket you see pictured here is an example of the pattern and was constructed by Ravelry userYarnGeek12 . I borrowed the image so that you could see what I was talking about.

Eli's blanket will be true to his Indiana roots, blue & white for the Colts. I am planning on uploading my own WIP images later tonight though, so stay tuned for more details!

^_^ Wish me luck!