I Love You, Trent Reznor

I've revisited With Teeth by NIN and was struck by "Right Where It Belongs" as it relates to the quarter life crisis precisely (as does "Everyday Is Exactly The Same"):
See the animal in his cage that you built,
Are you sure what side you're on?
Better not look him too closely in the eye,
Are you sure what side of the glass you are on?
See the safety of the life you have built
Everything where it belongs
Feel the hollowness inside of your heart
And it's all, right where it belongs
What if all the worlds inside of your head,
Just creations of your own?
Your devils and your Gods, all the living and the dead
And you're really all alone?
You could live in this illusion
You can choose to believe
You keep looking but you can't find the woods
While you're hiding in the trees
What if everything around you,
Isn't quite as it seems?
What if all the world you think you know,
Is an elaborate dream?
And if you look at your reflection,
Is that all you want to be?
What if you could look right through the cracks,
Would you find yourself, find yourself afraid to see?


I am seeking knowledge, not only for myself but for the sake of the world. I confess that I don't know everything and that I am flawed. There is much for me to learn. I want to expand and challenge myself, in hopes of finding truth. I am finding escape, I am freeing myself from the cliches of what society expects of us. I am trusting my inner self, and my dreams to guide me the rest of the way. I am seeing the world from a new perspective and I want this to share with the world.
Peace be the journey.

Home Again.

"Here I am, safely returned over those peaks from a journey far more beautiful and strange than anything I had hope for or imagined. How is it that this safe return brings such regret?"
- Peter Matthiessen, The Snow Leopard

Leaving Costa Rica and returning to home has been very difficult. It feels strange to be back. Returning from the sunny paradise of Costa Rica, to the cloudy, cold, fast-paced dreariness of DC. I'm not ready to be back home and talking about my trip makes me long for the sunny adventures on the beach, in the forests, in my personal 'garden of eden' even more.

I wish I could ease back into my old world at my own pace, extend my time to reflect on my trip and all that i've learned, rethink my commitments and priorities but old habits and routines have already kicked in too soon. I feel reverse homesickness... missing being on the road, missing the people i've met along the way.

Taking this trip alone, facing new challenges and new experiences, meeting new people, and navigating safely back home, I am liberated and empowered. I return with greater confidence, new perspectives and knowledge. My spirit is revitalized. But the new challenge is bringing to my everyday life the energy and spirit of adventure I felt while I was away. I must continue to seek the unknown, to take chances, to stretch my mind and my body, and I must reject the ruts and the trap of the comfort zone.

I've been looking up travel packages and airfare since I got back. I've already begun planning my next adventure...

I will blog all about my travels soon once I get some free time. I kept a journal and took many photos during my trip and I look forward to sharing them with you soon...

Peace & love

Nipple Rings Cause Airport Security Issue

A Texas woman who said she was forced to remove a nipple ring with pliers in order to board an airplane called Thursday for an apology by federal security agents and a civil rights investigation.

Read full story...

Now how in the hell does a nipple ring pose a threat to flight security? A nipple ring is NOT going to explode the airplane. Unless, of course, her nipples rings were cleverly disguised grenade pins.

Coincidentally, I fly to Costa Rica tommorrow morning.

The Miracle of Birth

So it was just a little over 2 weeks ago that I was rushing out of the house to discover that one of Misty's eggs had hatched. I'm sure not many of you are bird owners but I am guessing quite a number of you are at least pet owners or have owned a pet. So perhaps, then you understand that this is the pinnacle of pet ownership. I've had birds as pets for nearly 20 years and although there have been eggs laid, none have ever successfully hatched. So imagine my excitement to see this brand new fetus-like little creature, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, squirming among the newspaper shavings at the bottom of Misty's little Cheerio box nest.

I've named her Anastasia.

1 day old

3 days old

7 days old

9 days old

11 days old

And I took these a few hours ago during her 1st playtime outside of the cage (15 days old):

And this is a video (also taken earlier today) of her napping in my mom's hands:

She still looks a bit alien but in time, she'll be beautiful, just like her momma. :) It's amazing to watch how quickly she's growing and developing. Her eyes didn't open til just a few days ago, and her color and feathers are just really starting to show. She still sleeps most of the time but so far she's proven to be very friendly and cuddly.

And none of this would be possible without Momma Misty and Poppa Smoothie's dedication and superb parenting skills.

This is a video of the baby bird feeding process.

Smoothie is regurgitating his food for Misty who in turn will regurgitate it for Anastasia. It looks like they're having an intense makeout session. ;)

Misty's laid a total of 11 eggs but Anastasia's the only one who's hatched. Which is fine, one baby bird is more than enough... for now.

Just thought I'd share before I leave for Costa Rica. I hope everyone enjoys their week/end! I doubt you'll enjoy it as much as I will but you can try. ;) I'll keep a journal with me so I'll be sharing my adventures when I get back. Cross your fingers that I don't fall into a volcano, get eaten by a forest monkey, or fall off the tarzan swing!

Peace & love

And so it begins...

I'm starting a blog to document my quarter-life crisis (it's official, I'm uneasily approaching 25). This will probably consist of my wanderlust adventures and travels, reflections on self-improvement (and self-destruction), crazy bird lady antics, dramatizations of mundane occurrences, anecdotes of worthwhile (and not so worthwhile) encounters, details of my latest ventures, and other random ramblings. that I hope you'll find either entertaining, inspiring, or laughable. I'll try not to write about men and my personal life because they're boring plus I'd rather keep this PG. I'll try to mix in some video and photos often to keep you page-scrollers entertained. Expect many highs and lows as my moods and interests change as much as my underwear (daily, in case you were wondering) but that should keep things interesting.

As for my current state, here's a brief overview:

• My week-long solo adventure in Costa Rica begins on Saturday.
• My lovebirds, Misty and Smoothie, birthed a new lovebird on March 12 whom I call Anastasia.
• I haven't been in a serious relationship in 2+ years and I'm ok with that.
• The last few men I've expressed interest in have subsequently fled and traveled thousands of miles away.
  
• I still live with my parents and I still don't have a car.
  
• I'm on an ongoing search to discover my life's passion and purpose.
  
• I'm moderately bored.
• I think I may have A.D.D.
  

And that should set the tone...

So if you're reading this, please don't be shy. Check back, comment, discuss, share your thoughts, feel free to insult me even! I'll try to keep things provocative and interesting and fun but I'd like to know I have an audience at least so I know I'm not only entertaining myself (i do that enough IRL).

Peace & Love