claire.she.goes

Author: Claire

  • “Laughing With” by Regina Spektor

    (HT Josh Harris‘ blog)

  • The awakening…

    Lately I have felt as though I have fallen off of life’s road and into a ditch somewhere. (Or perhaps I’ve felt it for a while, but am just now realizing it…?) There are things that God wants me to see, that I have ignored. There are things that I have written and wanted to post, but haven’t bothered…

    I’m in a bit of a funk, and have come to recognize that I need to take care of my offline real self.

    I’ve been thinking about this all along, but things really came to a head over the last few days…Last Friday, I went back to my hometown for a mini staycation. By the time Monday came, I did not want to come back to Toronto(!).

    Not permanently. But just…For a while.

    I was feeling under the weather, but there was something more at play.

    As with most people women(?) I notice that I have an unfortunate habit. I love helping others. Yet I often leave myself undone.

    That cannot continue. I’m getting older (33). There’s only one of me in this world. I ought to treat myself better. God wants me to give myself the respect I deserve, and…Heaven knows, I’ve been overdue for some self-love.

    *sigh*

    Until next time…

  • Revenge is Sweet.

    Yesterday I saw Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. I don’t know what the critics have been complaining about or hoping for…

    Over on Rotten Tomatoes, Revenge has a 21% fresh rating. Again, I can’t help but wonder why.

    Nothing was diminished. The quality of the cinematography, acting, effects, etc., were identical to that of the first film. The only difference between the two movies was in the plot and its execution. It was familiar enough to be a sequel, yet original enough to be its own vehicle. And it was every bit as good as its predecessor.

    To those who don’t like this version of Transformers…Some of whom seem to be critics who found absolutely nothing wrong with the first film…Let me school you…

    *takes out chalkboard and writes in big letters*

    Revenge of the Fallen is a Michael Bay movie.

    *puts chalk down*

    Transformers is an action film. Not a character-driven drama.

    And in Revenge, Mr. Bay delivered exactly what I expected–a kick-ass, blow-em-up, CGI-infested visual feast. It ain’t Shakespeare.

    And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

    My only beef was with the supporting characters. The Twins got on my nerves. But only a little…As for Arcee…She and her sisters(?) were on-screen for merely seconds before they were eliminated.

    Ah well…

    Overall, it was a fantastic film.

    Definitely worth watching… 🙂

  • Gone Too Soon

    This morning a car drove by my house. “The Way You Make Me Feel” was blasting on the radio. I couldn’t help but smile…

    Last night I was at Starbucks. Several feet away from my friend and I there was a gaggle of young people–probably university students. They were checking their cell phones and Blackberries for the latest…

    I’d already heard (read) the news of Michael Jackson’s passing via people’s Facebook comments. But it hadn’t really hit me…

    All of a sudden, one of the kids screeched loudly.

    …he’s DEAD!?!


    If people didn’t know before, they did right then and there…

    There was an implied WTF at the end. As in, of all the crazy things you hear about Michael Jackson–and people are used to some pretty crazy ish–his being deceased is the last thing you’d expect.

    Indeed, it was for me.

    Rest in peace.

  • “The Remedy”

    Just thinking about the Jason Mraz concert that’s coming up this summer.

    I absolutely love this song. (From Jason’s first CD.) Hearing the story behind it made me love it that much more…

  • From elsewhere…

    I belong to a board that has a section where people post about random elements of their lives, relationships, and such.

    The other night I was checking things out. Someone had posted about a friend. From what I recall, said friend had a man who expected her to change–lose weight, etc.

    At the end of her post, the woman who wrote asked…

    …what are the limits you place on changing yourself, not just physically, maybe even personality wise or career choice in order to be with a man that you really do love? While in most cases, it’s ridiculous to even consider, I do believe there are some situations, especially when it’s beneficial to yourself as well, to make some changes. What do ya’ll think?

    There were plenty of common-sense responses that I agreed with. Yet I couldn’t resist offering my take on the issue…

    The only reason that I could conceive of for losing weight would be my health. And as noble of a reason as that may be, I would have to be my own motivator. Not the whining or demands of my partner.

    Here’s the thing that gets me…

    These days some people are so desperate to hook up, they will settle for someone who is kinda-sorta what they want (50-60%) and try to change them–or be changed by them–instead of looking for someone who is a better match. (Say 80-95% compatible. I’ve left 100% out of the picture–something in me isn’t yet sure of the likelihood of finding someone whose tastes match my own so completely. I also seriously doubt that I want to mate with a male version of myself.)

    Anyways…In the change process, people wind up extending themselves beyond the limits of who God wanted them to be.

    (That’s my theory. I hear about it often…Meanwhile, hooking up simply for the sake of curing loneliness just wastes time.)

    Yet who’s to say that if people just wait a little longer, they might come across someone who they were truly meant to be with. Someone who accepted them for their authentic selves…

    Look. I won’t deny it. I’m a growing girl woman. In fact, I strongly believe that the next couple of years of my life are going to be…Interesting. But I’m old enough to have certain likes and dislikes. And there are certain things that…If I did them…Just would not make me me.

    I had a recent epiphany which made me all the more comfortable with the idea of getting to know me as I am. OP, it seems like your friend could use a similar awakening.

    As a bit of an addendum, I wrote…

    Seriously, I am…ME!! 😀 These days when it comes to people-pleasing, I’m only willing to go so far.

    It’ll be interesting to see in the future whether or not I change my mind.

  • Live, from Facebook…

    grammar_crackers_large
    Source

    Dalia wrote

    …people, it’s less THAN, not THEN. than. than. how many times do i have to repeat myself? THAN!

    In response, one of her friends said…

    It’s all the text/email/online lingo that’s causing folks to slip on their grammar game. I told a joke the other day to someone standing in front of me…dude didn’t laugh, he said “LOL”! I was like “Muthaf**ka”…!

    To which I say…

    LOL.

    *runs and hides*

  • Maya.

    “Still I Rise” is one of the best poems I’ve ever heard–and a personal favourite.

  • Toronto. Jazz.

    It’s summer in the city, and you know what that means…

    Festival season is upon us.

    Next up…The Toronto Jazz Festival.

    Esperanza_Spalding

    Esperanza Spalding isn’t coming. 😦

    But there are plenty of free events. Click here for more information.

  • “I’m a man, yes I am, and I can’t help but…”

    I challenge you to finish that sentence.

    I miss that song.

    Oh!

    And happy Man’s Day. If you’re on effbook, login and check it out.