Were you ever really listening like I want for you to listen now?

1. That line is from an Avett Brothers song. It's beautiful. And I have a deep love for the Avett Brothers despite the fact that I haven't even heard all of their music. Please love them also.

2. A few weeks ago I decided that the culinary career path is not for me. I love to cook, but I do not want to cook for a living, so culinary school is off the table (and I'm totally happy and at peace about that!). Because of this decision, I also decided that working at Liza Jane's was no longer for me. It's a good place, but I think it was the combination of my recent decision and the fact that it was start-up -- not steady, no system in place yet, still feeling out the market -- that made me feel like it wasn't for me. So...

3. I found myself a new job. Given that I didn't want to work in food anymore, I looked for administrative/receptionist/office positions. It took little to no time to find myself a position as the receptionist for La Bella Hair Studio, a small salon in west end Richmond (corner of Patterson and Three Chopt for you locals). There are three stylists and a receptionist (me!) so it's a small operation, which I like. There's something I love about the organization of it - the list of tasks that need to be completed, the computer work, the schedule/database upkeep. I really like it a lot! I'm about to finish week two.

4. I have discovered that I need two days off per week. Period. I worked six days a week at Liza Jane's and it just did not cut it. At La Bella, I get Sunday and Monday off. It's awesome. And my schedule is still such tha tI can go home and cook dinner -- and, better yet, I have the energy to cook dinner. Like.

5. I have something very important to share with you. Please watch it, because it's important to me and important in general. And once you've watched it, I have a special surprise, to come in the next week or so... once I've given you all enough time to watch the video! :) FYI, it's 20 minutes and worth it.




She changed me.

The Ballad of Love and Hate

Love writes a letter and sends it to hate:
“My vacation's ending I’m coming home late.
The weather was fine and the ocean was great.
And I can’t wait to see you again.”

Hate reads the letter and throws it away.
“No one here cares if you go or you stay.
I barely even noticed that you were away.
I’ll see you or I won’t, whatever.”

Love sings a song as she sails through the sky.
The water looks bluer through her pretty eyes
And everyone knows it whenever she flies
And also when she comes down.

Hate keeps his head up and walks through the street.
Every stranger and drifter he greets
And shakes hands with every loner he meets
with a serious look on his face.

Love arrives safely with suitcase in toe.
Carrying with her the good things we know.
A reason to live and a reason to grow
To trust, to hold, to care

Hate sits alone on the hood of his car
without much regard to the moon or the stars.
Lazily killing the last of a jar
of the strongest stuff you can drink.

Love takes a taxi, a young man drives.
As soon he sees her hope fills his eyes.
But tears follow after at the end of the ride
Cause he might never see her again.

Hate gets home lucky to still be alive.
He screams over the sidewalk and into the drive.
The clock in the kitchen says two fifty five
And the clock in the kitchen is slow.

Love has been waiting patient and kind,
Just wanting a phone call or some kind of sign
That the one that she cares for who’s out of his mind
Will make it back safe to her arms.

Hate stumbles forward and leans in the door.
Weary head hung down, eyes to the floor
He says, “Love I’m sorry” and she says, “What for?”
I’m yours and that’s it, whatever.
I should not have been gone for so long.
I’m yours and that’s it, forever”
“You're mine and that’s it, forever”