I've been feeling way too melodramatic to post anything of substance lately, at the risk of embarrassing myself, but I think I'm ready for an update! Did anyone actually miss knowing about the ridiculousness of my life? Probably not. 

Um.. my aunt is awesome. I can't seem to keep her away from power tools. 

We spend a lot of time laughing, and a lot of time eating. Two of my favorite things!

I'm still pretty solidly on a girlyman kick, but have been enjoying some Badly Drawn Boy, Magnetic Fields, and the old standby, Paul Simon. Can't really go wrong there. 

Girlyman is coming to Dallas in September! So are Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.. Pretty pumped. I need to meet some people around here who like my music, and are willing to spend some money sometimes in order to go see them. Not a lot of money! Just some.

Girlyman is amazing live. Do it. 

When I get in an emotional funk, it seems like everything i listen to or read is about my life. And it isn't. I need to go back to my Four Agreements enlightenment again. They really made life seem pretty great, until I got caught up in my own stupidness again. For those of you who haven't read The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz, I highly recommened it. Its basically just a feel good book about how to live life. The "agreements" are with yourself, and they are not necessarily easy, but are something to strive for. Here are the four agreements, from his website:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Well there you have it. 

Pictures of Life from the Phone, from top to bottom: Kitty-Pig, CrazyAss cousin, Power Tools!, Too-Long-At-HomeDepot-Face, and Singin"What the hell have I" in the car.