The Little Things

*Typing to: Ring Ring by Sleigh Bells, Blood Bank by Bon Iver, No Love by Little Dragon, Possibility by Lykke Li, 9 Crimes by Damian Rice

It won’t be hard for me to post positive today as I’m headed back to California from a mini-vacay to Maui with 2 of my favorite people. It also doesn’t hurt that I’m jamming with my fancy new headphones. They’re boombastic.

Coasting through the air its bittersweet to leave paradise and land back to reality, but with a blanket of cotton swabs below me and cool glow of an amber sunset in the literal horizon I can’t help but entertain you with a memorable incite from my trip…

January 28^th is my parents wedding anniversary. Most years you can find these two beach / pool bums on Kaanapali shores in Maui. This year marked 33 years of love and marriage as the theme song to, “Married with Children” that was at one time so popular in my home as a kid, plays in my head.

33 years amazes me, I sat back to think and observe and then I can see why…

• The way they make breakfast in the condo like a perfected dance routine. Mom toasting her bread and frying her single egg while dad concocts his famous French toast recipe.
• The way mom always puts toothpaste on Dad’s toothbrush before bed.
• When Dad selects and orders the wine (that only mom and I drink) and on the anniversary makes sure to order a special one that would make my Mom giddy.
• Brief and intimate moments where I would catch them holding hands.
• Comfortable quietness without the need to clog the silence with words.
• The way my mom calls MY dad, “Pa” “Father” and “Daddy” as if her children were toddlers and she shouldn’t call him Ralph.
• The irritating but loving way that my Mom would look at my dad when he would order something a little less healthy.

Finally, the way that they both compliment each other on our way out to the door to dinner…why Jen do you ask why this is such a telling notion? After spending literally the entire day in board shorts, bathing suits and oversized t-shits, hair not combed and no make up, they get “dressed” for dinner.

Dad wearing his new Hawaiian shirt, souvenir sandals, cologne, hair combed (perhaps gel), and his dress watch and ring. Mom in her “flashy” (I “” flashy b/c if anyone knows my mom you know that shirt was not flashy but a notch up from her cute countryJ), sandals with a 1 inch heel and her diamond earrings from their 25^th Anniversary.

Dad: “You look nice dear.”

Mom: “Daddy you look so handsome. Jennifer doesn’t Daddy look nice in his new shirt?!”

AGAIN, why am I focusing so heavily on something like this? Isn’t this compliment that men and women pay each other tracked back to first dates and encounters? I think its amazing that after 33 years with one person that small/brief and to some insignificant 2 lines of conversation still happens. The Little Things.

As I wrote in their card on Friday, because we both know mom doesn’t know how to turn on a computer and dad probably doesn’t really know that I write a blog or what a blog is…

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.

Mom, mahalo for working double shifts at Sambo’s diner.

Dad, mahalo to you and the rest of the farming clan for having breakfast, lunch and dinner at Sambo’s and for getting the courage to ask my mom out for a beer.

Love you Ma and Daddy…

Everyone go and do some Little Things to those that mean something to you, friends, family, hubby, wifey, dog, cat, whatever.

Signing out,

Polly

Be focused, friendly and phenomenal...

I've gone back and re-read a few of my blogs and I think I'm starting to sound like a bad motivational conference speaker. And looking back on my conference planning days, that's the last thing I want to resemble.
So today I'm going to share some things that actually MAKE me WANT to be positive. Things that bring me back to "center", things that I embrace to keep me focused, friendly and phenomenal...

Friendly Advice: We all have um, we all depend on um, and all of um give advice. Let's face it, some better than others, right?
Recently I got some friendly advice from, you guessed it, an ol friend via gchat. Even through that magical lil green lite chat window, he enlightened me in a way that I did not see coming.
I was obsessing about a current life situation and being kinda of a "debbie downer", that's right I said it, not Positive Polly, in fact I insist on NOT capitalizing "deb's" name, as I refuse to accept as a Proper Noun.
ANYWAYS...I was upset/disappointed with something and here is the gist of the chat:

me: I hate that I feel that way
Jeremy: Don't hate the fact that you're living realistically
me: its just such a damper
Jeremy: Because you let it be
me: dang
calling me out on some sh**
thank you
Jeremy: That just happened

The phrase in red above I think may look simple and not obvious to what I'm getting at...but let me digress.
Anytime we find ourselves in a "funk" or "let down" or "resentful" it is because we let ourselves feel that way. Sure this isn't true for each and every situation but day to day with things big and small, its true. I was letting myself feel funky about something and it was only because I let myself do that. Basically, as I'm sure Jeremy will agree...shit or get off the pot...own your emotions and don't just sit around waiting for the universe to change them because it won't. Thanks for the friendly advice Jer...I needed a dose of my own medicine.

DANCE IT OUT: Quite possibly my favorite thing to get me out of a funk. Not just any dancing. But the kind of dancing where you let it all go. You close your eyes or stare at the neon light...and think of nothing besides the electricity in the air moving your body. The "IT" that is danced out is different for everyone. For me I can get this release and "re-centering" of myself with live music or simply in a friends living room shakin it b/c no one cares what you look like. This leads me to Jen's Concert Series ....which is really concerts that I will/want to be going to and where I plan on Dancing It Out. Let me know if you would like to join:

Jen's Concert Series
January 21 - Zion I - Oakland
February 3 - Nels Cline - SF
February 4 - (its a secret) - SF
February 22 - Yo La Tengo - Oakland
February - Cake - SF
March 18 - Girl Talk - Oakland - SOLD OUT SH**
April 1 - Galactic - SF
April 12 - Bright Eyes - Oakland
April 15-17 - Coachella

My first Dance It Out Moment - circa 2004/5 - Old Ironsides, Lipstick Night. You know who you are if you were there. ....

Alright, signing out in my favourite colour....
Be Happy and Be Well,

love,

Polly

Yes, another New Years Blog Post...

You guessed it, Positive Polly coming out with a new blog post that will probably focus on the same things that many of you other bloggers have been writing. For example; a 2010 review, wishes for 2011 and of course resolutions, resolutions, resolutions...

No doubt, I will try to keep it interesting, funky and fresh for ya.

2010 a year in review:

No I will not bore you with my ENTIRE year in review. But I have to say that 2010 was a pretty big contributor to the creation of Positive Polly. Lots has happened this year alone that has allowed me to try to be a better and happier person everyday.

2010 held some special jems of good times...kicking it off with one of the BEST NYE's ever with my homegirl Gyna holding it down in Seattle with our new ceramic kitty, better known as Pussy. Thats right we named it and it was more than funny.

For those of you that know us bandits, you know that we had a blast ringing in the new year in what is now one of my favorite cities. Starting off the year this way was only an omen for more goodness to come.
Concerts and Sunday Fundays with friends were as usual all the rage for my Sac Town Trio - Gynes, Melly and Kimmy Boi.
It was also full of baby blessings and weddings o plenty, new mamas Carrie and Jacqueline - you are amazing and I miss you both!

Speaking of babies...My sister gave birth to my beautiful niece, Anabella Grace as well this year! Very excited to have a new lil girl in the family. We were surrounded with boys for wayy too long. Of course this year was full of fun play time with my best buddy, Joe Joe:
It wouldn't be right to not mention the Great Move of 2010. Well not that big of move, but leaving Sac Town for Oak Town was more difficult that I thought it would be, however I am SO happy for the change and I am in love with living here in the Bay. People like Nick, Kim, the Kleins, Mateo and new friends have made me feel like this is my new home. But I need to do a proper shout out to my Sac peeps...please know I miss you dearly, I mean it. Nothing out here will replace dance nights at press club, bike days, brunch at capitol garage, runs in the park, beers at streets, 2nd saturday art walk, or sunny porch parties. Love and miss you all.
My trip to South America was also ridonkulous and HUGE shout out to Kare Bear for hosting such an amazing life experience.
Lastly, this year has been a big one for me with my physical and health goals. 70 L.Bs have been shed and I'm hoping for a few more...depending on the Big 4 Dubs...The Big W.W.W.W = Weekly Workouts, Weigh-ins and Wine. Thank you to all of you that encouraged me on my journey thus far, I wouldn't have been able to do it without you, especially R.E.L, Mommie, Kim Kim, and Lola).

Wishes and Resolutions Life Solutions
Resolution #1 - Top 2010
Resolution #2 - Run a Half Marathon - for real this time...
Resolution #3 - Stay in Better Contact with my Friends and Family. Too often I let time pass and make excuses for not touching base and caring for those that I love. I need to do a better job at this. period.
Resolution #4 - Save and then Save some more for Resolution #5
Resolution #5 - Book a Ticket to Portugal/Spain

As far as my wishes are concerned... as usual I wish for myself/everyone to try to add a lil more positivity and compassion into their lives everyday. I wish to stay positive when I want to scream at the car in front of me, when they get my order wrong at the coffee shop, when I am let down, when something doesn't pan out, when my car is towed, or when I loose my keys ... everyday I face this challenge to let these arbitrary and minor defects either effect me and my person OR not. I wish to continue to live with a positive and lite heart because if 2010 is any sign of this, only good things are to come of this mentality.

Alright already, go out and choose to have a good day.

<3

Polly