Talk is Cheap

I know I've mentioned this before, but it doesn't take a lot to make me happy. Interesting conversations. A mug of coffee. Laughter. Trekking to the bar with a friend, collecting snowflakes in our hair. A comfy couch. Warm pajamas. All of the above.

On Friday they let us leave training at 2:30 because the snow was coming down like crazy. All day long I contemplated whether or not to attempt the drive home or to stay over a friend's house. My friend Diana (from training) lives fairly close by in Middletown, and she convinced me to stay over. The whole night was honestly a bit like a sleepover, and very relaxing. Mostly because we didn't have to be anywhere, and we could just sit. And talk. Diana made us tea when we first arrived at her place and then we talked cross-legged on her couch, pet her cat, watched TV, and talked some more until dinnertime. We bundled up in layers and walked a few blocks to Eli's, stomping through snow. Over dinner we held more in-depth conversations about our past, observations we've made, experiences we've had over the years and just life stories in general. I loved it. To me, one of the most fascinating things in the world is learning about the defining experiences that make a person who they are.

After we got home from the bar, she lent me some pajamas (and an Army sweatshirt), I threw my hair up in a messy ponytail, we sipped sake (that was my first time trying it!), watched a movie and eventually went to sleep. Yesterday morning was a lot of the same--we talked, shared stories, watched part of "The Amityville Horror" and discussed our views on the paranormal. We discovered that we would both love to become published writers for different reasons, and we sipped coffee from purple mugs. I don't know if I've ever had that much fun being snowed in somewhere before.

Yesterday afternoon I ventured over to Angela's to continue my talking and coffee lovefest. We ordered paninis and vanilla chai at a cute cafe and talked for over an hour and a half about a variety of subjects. Angela and I never run out of things to say to each other despite having known each other for over ten years now, and I love that about our friendship. I think that even with good, well-established friendships, there is always an opportunity to learn something new about someone, especially if you are willing to actively listen. There's a difference between nodding your head and saying "uh-huh" and truly becoming engaged in the conversation.

It's funny because we were talking about how we both have the constant desire to be *productive* all the time, and Ange mentioned that she wanted to develop more hobbies. I didn't realize it fully yesterday, but one of my favorite hobbies (besides writing, reading, and editing) is listening. I just had one of the best weekends in a long time because I was able to do just that. Don't get me wrong--I definitely enjoy talking and laughing myself, but when it comes down to it, I like being the important person on the other side of the conversation. I love validating people's feelings, showing them that I understand...or if I can't truly understand, that I can at least imagine why they are feeling the way they feel.

Friendships + coffee + listening= love. It's as simple as that.

Idol Chatter

Can I just say that I absolutely heart David Archuleta on American Idol? Oh my God he is so lovable. I want to SCRUNCH HIM UP! Okay, that is all.

I don't have a lot of energy to expend on writing a real post tonight because I am exhausted. However, due to the incessant whining I've been hearing from a few of my colleagues (ahem, Samantha and Alan "Ace") these past couple of days, I thought I would give it a shot. APPARENTly people have actually been checking this site recently and have proved despondent over the fact that the last post was about lullabies and it was written more than a week ago. So, fine. Here is the amazing life of...Tarabyte. Yes, I did really just say Tarabyte. During the second week of training, we learned that one of Aetna's databases houses 16 terrabytes of information. This, of course, lead to me chomping at the air all the while proclaiming that "I bite," which then lead to the nickname permanently affixing itself to...myself. Quite endearing. I was about to give a presentation the other day and our head instructor looked up at me and said, "Ready, Tarabyte?" Seriously.

Anyway, other than the nickname, I am still loving my job. But I know, that's not inherently interesting to any of you out there reading this and frankly I don't feel like going into details of my daily life there only because it would turn out to be this one enormous run-on sentence that would probably take you an entire day to READ and an entire day for me to write, kind of like this one but with a more emphatic and excited tone. That's how much I love my job. Which is great, it really is. But dull to read about...we'll save it for a conversation over martinis, shall we?

In non-job related news (hmm this might be difficult), this past week I:

1. Started going to the gym AND on our elliptical machine. Go me!
2. Broke out in a crazy facial rash that itched, burned and turned various shades of red before receding. Ew, that sounds really gross. Anyway, it was merely an allergic reaction to Clean and Clear facewash. Nothing contagious.
3. Hung out with Mom and Dad!!! Always a wonderful time. We went to the Book Barn and had lunch (with Jeff, too, of course).
4. Became addicted to Kate Nash and constantly had one of her song lyrics buzzing around in my head while attempting to "populate" an RFP. Oops, work talk. But really, how can you not love a song with the title "Pumpkin Soup"?
5. Had an amazing dinner at Lupo with Megan and Lily.
6. Gave advice to a friend who was going through a hard time.

Whew, and you wonder why I don't have a ton of energy to post a blog entry on a daily basis. There you have it, folks. My life in a nutshell...as fascinating as it may be. Be back soon--or as soon as I feel like it!

This may seem silly, but occasionally when I am home by myself, I like to put on this beautiful CD called "Global Lullabies" by Freyda Epstein. It's a collection of lullabies from around the world in various languages, and it is the most calming music you'll ever hear. I have a particular favorite entitled "Shaker Medley." The lyrics and melody are simple but they are soothing and sweet which sometimes is exactly what I need after a long day.

The first time I encountered this CD was when I worked as a toddler teacher at Bright Horizons. One of the aspects of our center's mission was to teach children about different cultures and have them embrace whatever characteristics made them special. I can remember many an afternoon rubbing the little toddlers' backs as they fell asleep to this music at naptime...little Talia whose ponytail would be splayed across her blotchy cheek, Jonathan (Jon-Jon) who would sometimes wake up in a panic-stricken nightmare and need to be rocked back to sleep, and Rishi, one of my favorites, who would sprawl out all over his cot...and usually end up in a pool of drool. Their innocence always moved me. No matter how hectic my day was, or how crazy they were acting before their naps, you couldn't stay angry looking at their beautiful faces and listening to that CD. I loved each and every one of them in my own special way.

I just did a bit of research on my favorite song which turns out to be a Shaker hymn:

"Love is Little" comes from South Union, Kentucky, ca. 1834; its words are "Love is little, love is low/Love will make my spirit grow/Grow in peace, grow in light/Love will do the thing that's right," expressing in its mild simplicity the Shakers' abiding belief in humble faith and fellowship, rejecting the excessively charismatic preaching and apocalyptic prophesizing common in that age of religious reform and zealotry.

The entire lyrics, from what I can gather (the whole song is nowhere to be found on the internet!) are:

Love is little, love is low
Love will make my spirit grow...
Love is little, love is low
Love will make my spirit grow...

Grow in peace
Grow in light
Love will do the thing that's right.
Grow in peace
Grow in light
Love will do the thing that's right.

Love is little, love is low
Love will make my spirit grow...
Love is little, love is low
Love will make my spirit grow...

I have a little nogan filled with love, sweet love, love
Mama sent me here with it
To feed her simple doves

It is sweet, it is sweet
It is very, very sweet
Chick, chick, chick, chick
Pretty chicks,
Come and eat...

Then the Chorus repeats again.

It's beautiful. It really is. I highly suggest it for children...or for adults.