Because it’s Friday AGAIN. And because traditions are important. In which I cover the good stuff and the hard stuff in my week, trying for the non-preachy, non-annoying side of self-reflection.
And you get to join in if you feel like it.
Best. Friday. Ever.
I’m so excited about Northwest Knockdown (3 days of Roller Derby championship in Portland!) — and the extreme ass-kicking about to take place — that I can hardly get it together to chicken check in with you.
Root for my girls, okay? Not like they need it. But just in case.
Okay, let’s do this.
The hard stuff
Being about to move but not moving yet.
We move this Tuesday. Tooooozday. You-snooze-you-lose day. I’m-not-such-a-big-fan-of-Tom-Cruise-day.
The whole thing is making me a little crazed. Can you tell?
And since I’ve fallen in love with this dreamboat house (thanks, magical personal ad), the yearning and pining stuff is getting a little hard to take.
I keep walking over and gazing at it longingly. And then running away before someone calls the cops. Lovely. May also have to serenade it John Cusack-style.
Homesick.
Obviously this whole rooted grounding thing I’m doing with the move and all is very heavy and symbolic for me. Powerful stuff.
So — of course — the more I do it, the more I miss Tel Aviv.
In a heart-hurting, child-whining “I just wanna go hoooooooooooooooome!” sort of way.
And not just the city (the city!) but my friends there and my old neighborhood and my extended family and being able to say what I think the second it comes into my head and a million other little things.
It’s been almost four years since I left. It’s probably time for a visit. We’ll see. I don’t really want to talk about it.
So let’s move on to the good.
The good stuff
I got to meet Jeff!
Jeff Moriarty is a Twitter friend.
If Twitter is my favorite place to hang out online and @jmoriarty is one of my favorite people there … well, you can imagine how cool that makes him.
Anyway he was visiting Portland and came all the way across town in the rain to have a hot drink with me. And it was completely delightful.
He’s as great in person as he is in 140-character bits-of-genius, and I pretty much did not stop laughing the entire time.
You know, the internet has been good to me in so many ways. And I’ve been able to meet so many incredible people … getting to hang out with some of them in person is such a treat. Hooray!
Speaking of Twitter …. hilarity and goofiness ensue!
One of the best parts of Twitter is that it’s a space where I can be completely kooky and ridiculous in ways that I probably wouldn’t here.
After my rant this Wednesday making fun of evil, manipulative marketing-based yoga “lumberjack” yoga, a bunch of Twitter friends started riffing with me.
It started — how could it not — with “Monty Python’s infamous I’m a lumberjack and I’m okay” theme.
Then someone had the brilliant idea that we should produce an over-the-top yoga-lumberjack-themed Broadway musical. And then we started planning it.
And tagging our little missives with the (semi-obscene) #lumberjackyogabroadwaymusicalpr0n
Some of the highlights of our, um, conversation. You’ll probably never speak to me again.
dancing_geek: @sparkyfirepants *joins in at back* He’s a lumberjack and he is fab, sun salutaions work his abs…
sparkyfirepants: @havi I’m having visions of opening night.
heatherartworks: @sparkyfirepants @havi @dancing_geek – I am intrigued by this musical you are putting together #lumberjackyogabroadwaymusicalpr0n
sparkyfirepants: @heatherartworks @havi you don’t even have to harmonize as long as you can breathe correctly while swinging an ax.
melle: @havi @heatherartworks I was a transvestite lumberjack for Hallowe’en one year, and was a theatre student. Can I play?
And so on. I dearly love Twitter. It keeps me sane. You should be playing with us. We’re holding lumberjack tryouts next week.
This has nothing to do with Twitter, I promise.
This week I also experienced the most amazing healing session ever.
I’ve had all kinds of “wacky energy healing” stuff done that has been oh, less than impressive, but the work Hiro Boga does is freaking INCREDIBLE.
Seriously. Here website does not do her justice at all. I got a shocking amount of blocked stuff sorted out — things I’ve been working on for what seems like forever.
It was absolutely beautiful and I pretty much cried to myself the whole time and for three days straight I felt safe and happy and motivated and GOOD and CLEAN — and even now I can’t stop smiling just thinking about it.
I’m still boggling at how amazing it was.
You should probably go do a session before I convince her that she should be multiplying that price by three.
Unintentional awesome testimonial of the week!
From LeAnne McDaniel at Write On Communications (with permission):
“For whatever reason, maybe through your hypnotic marketing (grin), I trust you.
You sound like you have your shit together — you know, in the way that you don’t always have your shit together, but you’re mostly okay with that.
I want that.”
That is wonderful. Love it.
In fact, I think I want THAT to be my new tagline or something.
“Havi Brooks: she doesn’t always have her shit together, but she’s mostly okay with that.”
That is the most pure-hearted and weirdly flattering testimonial I’ve ever gotten.
Rock. On.
And really, how can I not leave you with this?
How can I not?
That’s it for me ….
And yes yes yes, of course you can join in my Friday ritual right here in the comments bit if you feel like it.
Yeah? Anything hard and/or good happen in your week?
And, as always, have a glorrrrrrrrrrrrious weekend. And a happy week to come.
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Thanks for the intro to Hiro Boga’s site, and the so-odd-to-hear-it-in-German clip, and the swell testimonial. I think that’s a lovely sentiment and the perfect balance of heart, soul and mind. Pretty cool that you inspire that, no?
And off topic: your side bar is especially helpful with the greatest hits lists, and your entire art design of the recommends (and I know it takes care, it doesn’t just APPEAR that way out of the blue) is wonderfully of-a-piece with your site. Very nice and worth the extra effort. It’s a lovely place to visit (although I often read the feed in my reader, and the content stands alone. Good for you.)
I love you even *more* for posting the Python. I heart Python in a way-too-geeky kind of way.
See? Without icky lumberjack yoga guy, you wouldn’t have had such inspiration for the musical. Everything *does* happens for a reason. 🙂
Karen JLs last blog post..My Feature Favorites: South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
The lumberjack is definitely not okay.
And I second “the internet has been good to me.” My life is much better now that I “get” it than when I was on the sidelines.
Good morrow!
Charlies last blog post..Feedback Needed on New Productivity Aid
I strangely resonate with the thought of associating Monty Python with yoga through whatever connection. 🙂
But mostly I just want to thank you thank you Havi for the whole Blogging Therapy series. Thanks to the series, I now have a huge “good stuff” entry. (I’ve been wanting to participate ever since you made it the Friday chicken.)
This week, I came up with my blog. The name epiphany was probably courtesy of Shiva Nata (another thank you), and I’ve been drafting posts all week until midnight and beyond. And I’m not scared! Thank you! [insert relevant comment content]!
Man, all the best names I’ve ever come up with are totally thanks to Shiva Nata. It’s the best brainstorming jump-starter there is, period.
Can’t wait to start reading your posts. Yay, you! Very cool.
@GirlPie – Oh Mz GirlPie, you are so schweet!
@Charlie & Karen – *blows kiss*
Friday check in
The good stuff: I was an extra in a movie for two days this week and made $120 I wouldn’t have made at my regular job.
The hard stuff: I was in court today giving up my parental rights to the son I am giving up for adoption. I’m definately NOT having second thoughts, I just wish things could be different so I wouldn’t HAVE to give up my parental rights. I was more okay with it when only I brought it up in my own thoughts, now that people are forcing me to think about it longer, it is making it worse. I would rather people wouldn’t keep saying are you sure? Are you sure you’re sure? Really sure?
OF COURSE I’M SURE!!! I WOULDN’T HAVE MADE THE DECISION IN THE FIRST PLACE IF I WASN’T SURE!!!!!!! THERE IS NO INDIAN GIVING WITH A BABY!!!!!
*deep cleansing breath* whew, sorry, I’m okay now. =)
Melissas last blog post..Inspiration and Purpose
OMG, Havi, this is what makes you so awesome – Good luck Tuesday, and thank you for the wierd-creepy lumberjack video that made me *really* laugh for the first time all week…
You rock –
lisa
Lisa Woods last blog post..What’s YOUR Twitter Karma?
Thoroughly enjoyed that, yes. Thank you very, very, very much.
I have a friend who is a Broadway producer. If you really want, we could make this thing happen.
Just saying…
Davids last blog post..We don’t need no steenking paper!
while i dont yet have a ‘broadway musical’ category to my collaborative writing site, it we absolutely next on my list of things i must do…seriously, see below:
1. substitute for a highschool english class (check)
2. beat my children in soccer during the ‘parents vs kids’ scrimmage (check)
3. create a section on my website devoted solely and especially for literature concerning transvestite lumberjacks.
it’s the only thing left to make my day a complete and total success. i hereby offer to host the creation of this musical at my site (but then, honestly, who wouldn’t want to be associated with such a classic piece of literature.
cheers…jeb
Havi, you are too kind by half. Twitter is a strange little place with many fleeting discussions and connections. If a bright light can shine through that 140 character window, I usually wager the soul on the other side is quite worth meeting in the real world.
So it was my pleasure to retrace that soggy piece of the Oregon Trail for the privilege of meeting with you and adorable little Selma.
All the best in your move and making a new home that alleviates some of your homesickness. I have faith in your ability to create happiness (or Haviness) wherever you find yourself to be.
This blog is pretty awesome. See how cool Twitter is? You learn new things every day.
Now get this. I actually do Yoga. I’m not even kidding. In fact, I’m responsible for getting a handful of very macho weightlifter guys into it. I’m like an ambassador or something. With a mustache.
Johnny Truants last blog post..Passenger 57 is in my barn
Havi, you generous, wonderful woman, you! Thank you for acknowledging our work together in your blog–it was a real joy to meet you in that way. And now I look forward to practising with your Shiva Nata Dvd, which arrived in the mail this week.
May your move on Tuesday be as easy as slipping into your favourite pair of socks. And your new home fit you so perfectly well that you belong in it without missing a Havi-beat.
Love, Hiro
Hiro Bogas last blog post..Seeing Whole