Sunday, January 29, 2017

1:04 am - Sunday morning

It's 22 days into January and its been a difficult month. Tooth infection/tooth extraction, trying to find a new apartment, needing to move, packing, and its not over yet.  Still need to land an apt, still need sign a lease, still need to finish packing and round and round it goes and where it stops nobody knows. I tried out for a transfer at work and the idea was nixed by the higher ups. Okay, that one stung a bit and I took it personally.

They say the universe never gives you more than you can handle but gah it's definitely testing my limits. I've packed 14 boxes so far and 12 of them were for books and media. I've barely made a dent with the rest of the apartment. I thought writing this entry would help me unwind but I think its having the opposite effect.

Usually, my organizing brain handles the logistics of a move pretty well..the packing, the organizing, moving from task to task until things get done. A veritable workhorse. I seem to be doing things much slower these days. Things seem to be NOT falling into place like they usually do.  Perhaps I'm being impatient.

All for now...time for some sleep.
L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2017 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Love - The Only Why

It's Friday night. I have the weekend left before I head back home to NYC after a week vacation in Texas. I'm having an internal struggle about going back to work. Not that I want to stay in Texas. Too much of a car culture. My preference is easy mass transit (even with all my complaints).

I am feeling a bit contemplative about what I want to work on in the new year. This is what my list looks like at the moment:
1. Write (every day, all the time, any chance i get)
2. Breathe Deeply
3. Smile from my heart
4. Laugh often
5. Be present
6. Minimize material goods
7. Stretch

That's as far as I've gotten but it's a good start. In the past, I make these huge lists of all the things I want to accomplish and all the projects that I want to complete and it adds a certain level of stress to my life. To the point where I start to feel the clock tick-ticking away in the back of my brain when I haven't achieved a number of things on my ghastly lists. I am giving myself a break. An actual PASS from my perpetual TO-DO lists for the next twelve months.

Instead, I want to try some new things, explore interests that will wake me up. I've been too dormant. Too passive. Expending too much time and energy into things that are NOT important to me. And not spending enough time with my nieces and the rest of my family. I've been neglectful because I've been too busy earning a living. At the end of the day, that doesn't really cut it for me. I want to connect with friends and family in a different way.

I was trying to paraphrase a line from the movie Collateral Beauty and no matter how I wrote it out, there was a whole emotional context that was missing.  I'm opting now instead to write out loud that I need a new reason to get out of bed in the morning when I have to face my day. I don't want it to be about paying bills, I want my life to be out so much more.  Connect to those things that will bring music back into my soul, literally and figuratively. For starters, explore Latin Jazz ...I was listening to some old Cuban music and an ember of interest burned hot in my belly.  I'm going to follow through when I get home. Find some venues to listen to some live music and see where it takes me.  You get my drift.  Of course, there is so much more to write but for now I'll leave it there.

This is my last entry for 2016.

Peace,
Lily

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2016 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Monday, October 3, 2016

James Bay's show at Radio City

Glittery NYC (9.30.16)