Category Archives: Grace in Small Things

A bit of joy

By nopasanada | Published: July 10, 2011

“A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.” ~Eudora Welty

The last few days have been less than stellar but starting on this tomorrow has given me this renewed sense of joy.

My creative and colorful side often gets stifled under the weight of Very Serious Work. Which is a shame but for the first time in months I’ll be busting out my DSLR. It’s currently covered in cobwebs. It rarely happens where I am genuinely looking forward to something without trepidation or having anxiety wrapped around my shoulders.

That lack of wonderfulness has not been without that moment of clarity that comes from a dire (in my world) situation and think that’s what making me a little bit joyful right now. That moment of realizing that things are bad and that I have the ability to make it better.

Also posted in Fotografias | 3 Comments

To Austin, With Love

By nopasanada | Published: March 17, 2011

“The sun lay like a friendly arm across her shoulder.” ~Margorie Kinnan Rawlings

I’ve been to Austin three times and every time I am there I declare my undying love for the place and its breakfast tacos and profess the need to live there. I am not trained in anything but working in politics, is my rationale for moving to the state capitol of the Lone Star State. I roam around 6th street basking in that breezy but warm air thinking, “Oh yeah. I like this”. It probably has something to do with the immense amount of sunlight across the city. Or being able to have the windows rolled down and telling people how fly I am. Just like a G6. It’s probably because after that long, cold, lonely winter I have had it up to here (puts hand level to forehead) with this winter/snow/wintry mix/I’ll show you COLD, bullshit of the previous four months. So anything that can give me Vitamin D without taking a small tablet, is something that I will welcome with open arms.

I was in Texas for a little SXSW fun and to visit my friend Chris and because you guys? It isn’t illegal to wear sandals in early March. Did you know this?? I had beers outside and fancy migas inside. Every conversation was too short and the hugs were just long enough. I needed a vacation and that weather and that realization that everything is about the little things so grab them, grasp them and hold onto those moments because they’re fleeting.

Now c’mere, Austin. Lemme smooch you.

Also posted in Planes trains and automobiles | 5 Comments

J’adore

By nopasanada | Published: February 14, 2011

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” ~Winston Churchill

I think that any day that starts with my punching my bathroom wall is a day that is going to be awesome. Nay, AWESOME. So I spent most of the day looking all dour like my puppy just died or like a malcontent 20-something.

Then I thought, you know what, fuck this melancholy bullshit. I’m sorry for my language but seriously, fuck it.

My misery is for once not of my own doing and if I could splay the exact cause of my downtrodden state I would but I cannot. Then again I really needn’t another cause for puking the terribleness of my life onto the screen because if you really need more of that I’ll direct you to the archives. That said, little things helped to lift my mood: My pal allowing me to vent, a pink heart shaped cookie, a props via reply all, the soundtrack to An Education and the optimism of others. It was the little things, not some grand gesture of love that made it a good day. And now a cupcake and prosecco for dinner.

Also posted in That's Life | 3 Comments

This is for my people. My party people.

By nopasanada | Published: June 13, 2010

“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” ~William Faulkner

Way back in February – you remember February don’t you? With the cold and the ice weasels? – well way back then I went to Houston for three days. Three days in a room with Susan surrounded by women I have since….gosh, forever. Except here’s the funny part, the part where you can understand my pill popping ways: The first day we ordered bottles of champagne by the pool and slowly people that have always just been there appeared. Susan and I got pedicures at the spa and then got dressed for a Mad Men themed party. We went downstairs and started to mingle and instead of hugging and kissing it was as if I didn’t belong. Here I was in front of these Forever People and yet I couldn’t stand being there. I was there physically but mentally couldn’t help but feel as if I wasn’t wanted there. Like ‘they’ didn’t like me. I lost the ability to speak to others and a lump formed in my throat so I ran back upstairs. I tweeted something about being around all of these people I’ve known for years and yet feeling like complete awkward shit. I stared at myself in the full length mirror, shook my head and went back downstairs.

Everything else is a blur. A chaotic mess of wonderful memory. Where I had more fun than is legal and I laughed. Oh, how I laughed and enjoyed a tasting menu and hugged and whispered and talked about what was fun. And my God, I was inspired. During the keynote featuring Heather, Maggie and Gabby I tweeted, “This keynote is making me smarter” and later “I love seeing smart women do great things”. It was all better than good and I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to write about Houston or the ideas that I left with. Probably life getting in the way. Not enough time to really process. But four months have passed and I’ve processed and percolated. And now I sigh. I got comfortable. I don’t know why I was so nervous because those women there? The ones brimming with brilliance? They’re my people. Now can we do that again?