THREE YEARS, 286 ENTRIES LATER

I had planned to bring you an unexpectedly dazzling post. It would have dangerously blown your socks (and quite possibly your undies) off. Then, in a strange yet progressively more regular victory of work over life, I had to slay the whole brilliant post. Why the hype? Well, it dawned on me awhile back that, Evuhleen was officially launched in May of 2008 and I started providing hardcore, woman-on-journal blogging action. So, yes, it’s my blogiversary!

In this aforesaid now-slain entry, I summed up the high points from the last three years. But I don't have the time to do all that again. Plus the procedure of going back and reading some of my own stuff was a little awkward. I wrote some dreadfully silly shit, people. It's remarkable you stuck with me as long as many of you have.

Regardless of how long you've been reading my humble little site, I thank you. You've put up with a lot. And I want you to know that, as invigorating and therapeutic as it’s been to put whatever it is I've written out there, the best part is the people I've met along the way.

Three years, in the grand scheme of things, doesn't seem all that long. Yet three years ago, I don't think I'd have been able to visualize life as it is today. I'm one lucky woman. Thanks for sharing the journey with me.

Kudos to Imcha Imchen, best friend and designer for creating the new header you see above. More about it in the upcoming posts.

There are some songs, which build and grow on you. And there are those that reach out and grab you on the first note. They start fast and morph from one movement to the next in a way that is intense, energetic, flowing, and unexpected. This amazing three minute track is one of the latter and I love the smooth vocals that Jamie Cullum features on this song titled, ‘Mind Trick’. No matter which way he’s swinging it’s all excellent.

Bon Voyage Ru Ru!

Ruan - coworker, best friend, and neighbor extraordinaire - leaves our fair city in a few days for 6 months in Canada. I'm terribly sad to see her leave but full of joy and pride for the panorama that awaits her. She’s been one of my favorite people, a wonderful friend, and I absolutely adore her. Just being in the same room with her is constant entertainment.
Any way I could try to describe Ruan would sound cliche, but she truly is an orb of energy, a force of nature, spirited and a tornado—all of those ways they describe characters in books, only this girl is the real deal. When we first met four years ago I had no idea that she'd become one of the most dazzling lights in my life. She's been my confidante, my shoulder to lean on, my sounding board - and most absolutely my true gal pal - and I hope that I've been all the same for her. I can't imagine a girl’s night, a holiday/office meal, a shopping trip, a visit to church, or a hangover without her. And I've been pampered by having such a great friend waiting for me every day at the office. We started college and then work at the same time so it’s gonna feel strange to stay on and not have her around anymore!

We did our unofficial going away for Ru last weekend and last night we had an official bon voyage celebration. We're definitely going to send her off with a bang. Or at the very least, a severe headache.

And we say goodbye to Ruan, although she'll be a part of our lives for a very long time. Runa and I wish her all the best and will welcome her back into our home and our happy hours anytime. Here’s to you, Ruan. Hope you find out all the cool stuff the new City has to offer. Hope you never have to worry about holding your liquor AND I hope you learn to swear constantly.

Here are some pictures of the farewell that took place last weekend, mostly because I’m really friggin tired and can’t think of anything more to say.


Also, you should listen to the Jamie Cullum’s new track, “Don’t Stop the Music” (Rihanna’s cover – tastefully done, might I add) while you look at them, because that’s what I listened to on repeat while I posted them. If I wasn’t so tired, I’d write more about the party, too. Sorry, internet. I’m slowin’ my roll these days.

We love you lots, Ruan. Our loss is Canada’s gain!

Grand Old Youngster

So the things I’ve done lately... Listened to the new albums of Coldplay (Violet Hill), One Republic (Dreaming Out Loud), Jason Mraz (We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.), Sam Sparro (Black & Gold) and Justin Nozuka’s single ‘After Tonight’- he's not so popular or widely known but he ought to be!

On a personal note, I’ve been celebrating clarity for the past few days. Too bad, it cost me a friend I’ve known for some time now. Celebration, anticipation and farewells. I can't decide if I'm going to love or grieve for breezy bright June.

After listening to the tracks from Coldplay's new offering, I believe they’ve come up with a new recipe that their fans will adore and want a lot of.

It's been a couple of days since I’ve had my strange enlightenment, but I've yet to sort out my life, buckle down and figure things out completely. At least the luggage has been emptied, though some of its contents are scattered across in my head. I've got a huge mess to clean up before I try to move onto something or someone else, which includes all the memories he’s left me with. I've been swamped with images and am having a trying time at work. No time to read my seven precious books of Narnia and no time to think much about anything really. But when I heard Jamie Cullum’s track ‘Twenty Something’, it made me sit up and smile. It starts out a little slow but then gets really good.

I imagine he has a look in his eyes that says he's already miles away and when he says, "Someday," you know that "someday" will never come to pass.
KD Lang’s ‘Surrender’. Though I didn't care much for the other songs - I thought she nailed this one. Beautifully.

Stocking up on ice-cream, tea and cookies and ideas about which is more amazing: A parallel universe or that we are one of a kind in this universe.
I can’t dress all corporately no matter how much I try. I've noticed the quizzical looks I get from other employers in the same campus who probably wonder why a working lady dresses like a college-going kid.

I’m glad to be back at work on a Monday and doing what I love to do: half a day of work and the rest of the time- write. Here’s what I’m listening to right now. Landon Pigg’s ‘Coffee Shop’