wordpress stat

From the category archives:

live

… same destination, different journey

by Ali on August 30, 2010

I read Eat, Pray, Love when it first came out.  I loved it.  Well most of it.  I had a deep connection to the character in the beginning of the book, devoured Italy … then lost interest in India.  I’ll be honest, I scanned the pages in the Pray section.  I almost gave up on the whole book during her silent period, wishing she actually would be.  Bali won me back.

I remember reading the first part of the book, where she leaves her marriage, has a breakdown on the bathroom floor and then straight into rebound relationship, I wondered if she knew me?   Had she stolen my story?  Or was this more common than I thought?

… my story, well that’s a whole other post, it’s an emotional week here in Ali-land, so you might just get it. But the short of the long is … there wasn’t a bathroom floor, I broke down nightly, in my car, outside the backdoor, not wanting to go in.

“The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying; the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving.”
— Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)

I left, with one suitcase and a few photos.  A couple days later I started dating B, a week later I moved in.  When that relationship inevitably ended, I was suddenly left without title, I wasn’t his wife or his girlfriend.

Who was I?

That’s why I related to Eat Pray Love, and that’s also where our stories took different paths.  Maybe if I had the bank roll to finance a year long, transcontinental spiritual journey, it would be more similar.  So instead of indulging in a carb fest, I did what any good irish gal living in England would do.  I drank.  A lot.

A few weeks ago, Heather mentioned the guy version … Drink Play F@#k.

I laughed, thinking she was joking.  Then googled it.  Sure enough, it’s a real book.  I bought it.

It’s about a man, whose wife leaves him for some guy called David.  When he realizes she is still taking money out of their joint account, he decides to empty the bank account, quit his job and blow all the years of sensibly saving on a year of living stupidly.

His first goal is to get drunk, and where else would you go to get drunk, but Ireland.  That’s when I knew I would love this book.  The second part of his journey is play, and where else to play but Vegas.  Finally getting laid in Thailand.

When I first started reading, I was expecting a much harsher story or more of a spoof on EPL, although the book is obviously inspired by EPL, he even makes witty reference* to it a few times, it is an entertaining read and an insight into the male side of the story**.  To be honest, I kinda loved his journey, it sounded like a blast, I wanted to be on it.

I think most women I know, who were suddenly single (no kids), had the money and time and were asked the question if you could go anywhere, do anything for a year what would you do?   I think they would pick Italy for the food, wine and men.  I think they would want to go on some kind of find yourself retreat, with a little yoga, but maybe not in India, and finally somewhere lush, tropical and beautiful, just like Bali.

Ask the same question to men, and I predict the majority would choose drinking, a stint in vegas and getting laid.

If you could go to 3 places, where would you go and what would you do?

* if you are a huge Gilbert fan you will probably won’t appreciate these interwoven criticisms

** they are planning a movie, Steve Carrel is rumoured to play the lead. Which in my opinion is wrong.  Someone suggested Vince Vaughn, that could work, what about Clooney? But really what women would leave Clooney for some guy called David?

{ 7 comments }

… thoughts

by Ali on August 29, 2010

I met the Gster early this morning in the park to beat the heat that was breaking through the dawn layer of fog.   If you don’t know, the Gster is a world class organizer.  He mapped out a new route, recruited his beautiful and wonderful wife to be our personal waterstop.  She followed us all over the city with water, gatorade, coke, watermelon, pretezels and ice cold sponges.  Just for us.   Where ever we needed her, she was at our beck and call, and we only had to wake her once when she had fallen asleep in the car.  Thanks N!

The route was great.  I had no idea where we were going, how far we were in or how long we had left until the last 5k.  Just ran and talked.  Topics this morning included, but not limited to … movies, losers, cars, cravings, bus trips and parents.

We spent the first half of our run talking about parents, them getting older, changing.  It’s been an emotional weekend for me.  It’s probably day 27.  My parent are thinking of moving closer to me.  Well my dad is … he is talking of selling the house, buying a condo downtown, no gardening, lawn mowing, shoveling.  Something smaller, less work that they can leave for 3 months in the winter and travel south.  My mom isn’t quite on board.  She likes the grandeur of her home, work and all.

On Friday we went and looked at a couple condos.  Nothing great, nothing they would buy.  Afterwards, when they had left, I started piecing together conversations I have had with my dad over the last few months.   A mention of this, a reference to that.  None of them terribly meaningful, but together I started to see the bigger picture.  He is planning for the inevitable.  Ensuring my mom is somewhere she can manage if anything should happen.  Not that there is anything wrong, they are both in great health.  But I think he now sees the future in years not decades.

The reality of their mortality has made me incredibly emotional.

This mornings run made me stop thinking about the what if, when if, that have been filling my head.  Deep breaths in, filling me with possibilty of here and now, slowly exhaling all the if, ands, or buts.

{ 6 comments }

… necessities

by Ali on August 18, 2010

I had today off, so headed across the border to collect my new running shoes.  I ordered them from here, they worked out to $84 all in, if I bought them at our local running store they are around $140.  I like to support local as much as possible, but I also like me some serious savings!

my new kicks …. Mizuno Wave Rider 13  … a necessity for running

After picking up my shoes, popped into Target got a few new kitchen items and then into Macy’s.  As I crossed the entrance into Macy’s I said to myself … DO NOT GO INTO THE SHOE DEPARTMENT.  I turned left and headed for the shoe department.

They are fabulous and a complete necessity.  I mean, really, you can’t wear mizunos to work right?

After dodging customs, I had a quick visit with the lovely Dawn and the adorable Wee E.   Oh … those curls.

To balance out my cross border purchases, I bought a basket of local peaches on the way home and will only date men within a 30k radius for the next month.

{ 7 comments }

… my new ride

August 17, 2010

I got her last night … although based on the size and power I think it may be a him.  Shiny Silver Civic was definitely a girl. I had the air conditioning on full for the trip home, I needed a sweat shirt and toque … HEAVEN!

9 comments Read the full article →

… car-less

August 12, 2010

I got run #2 in tonight with the Gster!  We did the loop of the park, even though the temps were hotter than Matthew McConnaughey playing the bongos we had a great run. I am officially car-less.  I sold my honda civic.  I am sad.  I can’t believe how emotionally attached I was to my [...]

3 comments Read the full article →

… a blonde sells her car

August 11, 2010

I ran this morning, bright and early before the heat could destroy what little motivation I had.  It was a good run, no watch or garmin, just me and my crazy head.  One run of four I said I would do this week.  It’s already Wednesday, not a lot of room for procrastination. So, the [...]

3 comments Read the full article →

… kitchen makeover

August 10, 2010

just call me Sarah Richardson … before beige blah, minus the hutch, which was already dismantled and painted when this was taken. When I originally ‘decorated’ the kitchen, I took the cupboard doors off and painted the inside blue. … after avocado green accent wall, brighten the other walls up with white corn (white with [...]

4 comments Read the full article →

… ikea – swedish for love and hate

August 4, 2010

WORKOUT – 1 hour spin class phase two of the kitchen reno is now complete thanks to a visit to IKEA and the fabric store.  I bought a kitchen cart/island, new shelves and fabulous new curtain material.  Oh and napkins, candles, a utensil holder and tea lights. I’ve ordered a couple more things just enough [...]

10 comments Read the full article →

… back to life … back to reality

July 29, 2010

I’m home. My plan when I got home was to unpack, do laundry and post about Chicago.  That’s just not happening today.  I don’t know what is happening today, except alot of starting, stopping and avoiding. My suitcase is half unpacked and spread over three rooms.  There are 2 piles of laundry lying in the [...]

3 comments Read the full article →

… conference life

July 28, 2010

As much as I love returning to my room and someone has cleaned it, made the bed, and replaced the toiletries to save me shopping.  They have even take out the trash. There is no place like home. Yeah, it’s a few days of self indulgent luxury.  Actually it’s more of a necessity.  Conferencing is exhausting. [...]

4 comments Read the full article →