Sinking Sun

Inspired by my trip to Davis Island for a sunset tonight...

Sun sinking into the blue
Sky and boats nodding softly to sleep
Paw prints on the sand
Beach chair legs pressing footless paths

Pavement smoothes to sand to ease
Visitors into the windswept and cool evening
Sans shoes they smile at each other ("Nice, isn't it?")
Though we don't exchange names we won't be strangers again

Orange chaise lounge
Stark against the white sand like that
Laughter from lovers punctuated by
Those feathered wings I can hear but not see

Frisbees and convertibles soon become scarce
Too soon the day is nearly over
Daylight isn't chased away but merely slips
Into night to rest to rise into the morning again

ChivalryMan!

With all of the hype about IronMan, I thought I'd create my own as-needed superhero. Enter ChivalryMan.

ChivalryMan comes to the rescue of ladies everywhere in their times of need. He's sort of like your knight in shining armor, without the commitment, leaving you free to find the man of your dreams.

He arrives on a cloud of (non-AXE) cologne and is freshly shaven, his shoes shined, and his cape tucked into his freshly pressed boxer-briefs. He has a limited vocabulary, including "You've lost weight," "Rest while I cut you another brownie," and "You look amazing but your skirt is wrinkled... here, let me iron it for you."

He carries with himself a sleep-mask to protect your modesty when helping with wardrobe issues and scolds men who whistle at ladies.

Ever been at the beach and, finding yourself with the choice of a port-a-potty or your vehicle, needing to fix or change your bathing attire? Not a problem. ChivalryMan comes to your rescue by holding up a sheet, whilst covering his own eyes and allowing you to change in the privacy of your little billowing cabana.

If, like me, you've ever been yelled at by a man for crossing the street on the walk signal, ChivalryMan would chase down the little heathen and smartly rebuff him, gently removing a white cotton glove and slapping such a boarish man for yelling at a nice lady in a black dress and black patent high heels.ChivalryMan would appear and disappear with impeccable timing. He carries very little, because he is need-based.

His right arm is a little larger than his left arm because he always arrives just in time to open doors for ladies, or to hold a chair out for them, or to carry a shopping bag of shoes into the apartment while holding the front door open. Chivalry isn't dead, you see... it just needs a little refresher course.

Cheers!

Funny Stuff

So the other day Jeff (my little brother) and I met downtown for lunch. We went in search of a restaurant that served both chelseafood (salads, fruit, lean meat) and manfood (burgers). We did find such a place- I got a salad and Jeff got a wrap with beef and cheese and such. We were handed our food to-go by the waitress; she said "enjoy your food!"
Jeff said, "you, too!" (like you say to people when they say, "have a nice day," and you say "You, too.")
I was like, "Jeff, she said 'enjoy your food.'"
Jeff: "Well, she'll probably eat some time today."
Me: "..."
(this post is short, sweet, lacking anything intellectual, and maybe you sort of had to be there. I thought it was funny.)

LifeLessons, AKA the blonde's philosophy on life.

Those of you who have been reading for awhile know that I occasionally post a list called life lessons, which explores the various lessons and experiences that come with growing up. Or at least growing older and spending time in this temporary dwelling we call earthly life. I believe that having a sense of humor, an attitude of contentment, an appreciation for the simple and even formulaic, and a centering of the soul that is in fellowship with Christ is essential to my life and even happiness. I realized that I haven't published a l.l. (lifelessons) list since last August. I think it's high time it's updated. What do you think?
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l/l, 2008 and counting...
1. Life is too short to eat burned popcorn
2. Convertibles are sexy... until you get to your destination (take a scarf)
3. Never trust puppies
4. Take the stairs!
5. Take care of your feet
6. Call your grandmother with your free weekend and night minutes
7. Only have chocolate cake if it's really, really, really good
8. It's ok to have chocolate cake for lunch once in awhile, but only if it's really, really, really good.
9. Don't be "that person" at the beach...
10. If you find yourself saying "But I shouldn't feel that way," use it as an opportunity to clarify and consider why you feel the way you do
11. If you are going out to the grocery store, at least put on some lipstick and mascara. At least.
12. Talk to God every day
13. Take a walk for no reason other than the fact that you can
14. Find a great coffee shop (or two), a great restaurant, and a few places of business and become a regular
15. People treat you differently when you have curly hair
16. Write real, paper letters to send to people you care about
17. Keep a pocket calendar and use it to write down thoughts and/or good ideas
18. Rushing doesn't really get you there any faster
19. Emails should always be eloquent and proper
20. If you think your clothes are too wrinkled to wear, they probably are
21. If you wear a pleated skirt to work, take a pair of jeans with you in case the day becomes windy
22. Go organic if possible
23. Horses know when you are crying
24. If you have the opportunity to read your Bible in a public place, take a moment and thank God that you are an American
25. Pink bicycles: there are some things even thieves won't do
26. There's a fine line between being "green" and being a loser... don't skimp on the essentials
27. If you go shopping and you buy something small, save a plastic tree and carry it out, sans bag
28. If the opportunity arises that allows you to be where you love, do what you love, or be with the one you love but comes at considerable (non-monetary) costs, consider it carefully. You may learn more than you think.
29. Really, really great dinners are made of balsamic vinegar and olive oil, fresh chicken and vegetables, and strawberries with homemade whipped cream
30. Share the roses...

April 12

For those of you who pay attention to the time that I post, yes, it is indeed after midnight. I know it's actually Sunday, then, but I would like to think that it is still saturday and I'm merely extending the weekend. I know it has been awhile since I have blogged, and I wish that I could "catch up" on the news since the last post, but instead I think I'll just start with whatever is on my mind today. Have I told you that some things have changed in my life? For starters, I took a different position at my office, one that combines my account job with the receptionist position. I like to think that it's an accounts manager who answers phones, rather than the other way around. And I really, really like it! I love meeting new people who come into the office and being in the center of what is going on. My days go by quickly because I stay busy and focused, and somehow do both of the jobs.
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So today was busy! I am planting a garden in my little back yard. Complete with strawberry plants, blooming annuals, and African violets. And cafe lights. Not quite sure how I'm going to pull that off yet, but I'm sure I'll figure it out tomorrow. I also installed two new shelves in my hall closet to get some of the heavy and rarely used items off of the floor. Tomorrow I have a few things to do but plan to go out to the barn and also go by to see my parents.
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Tonight I ran from my house to Howard Avenue. One of the great things about South Tampa is that you can run along the water, and the bay breeze mingles with jasmine plants flowering by the mansions and the sprinklers make the grass smell so fresh. It is much more invigorating and energizing than running at the gym. Of course sometimes I go over to Davis Island, which is also great, but I have to stop for traffic quite a bit crossing the streets. The other night I almost got hit by a car driving into Tampa General Hospital. The irony was not lost.
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As always, somehow and somewhere, God teaches me something (or rather shows me where and what He wants me to seek to learn). Currently I believe that it is the difference between driven people and called people. Gordon MacDonald goes over the difference in Ordering Your Private World (f/k/a OPW). Now that I have this gem (Thank you, my sweet D., for finding it for me) I will be reading through the section Caught in a Golden Cage; MacDonald intricately and intimately describes the acute differences between called people and driven people. In our 24/7 world, the difference can be soulfully fatal; driven people often fail to be the witness to the lost that called people just seem to do naturally and gently. More tomorrow. (If I'm not knee deep in dirt and mulch, that is).

Readers

Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Faithful Readers


Dear faithful reader,
I apologize for not writing anything for the past week or so. My days and nights have been full with activities, nights out, and nights in with doing all of those things that a Chelsea does. I'm actively looking for a couple of things in my life right now, which has left me somewhat and sort of uninspired... yet inspired internally. For example, after my morning latte I got very inspired about something, but by the evening it had faded to a flicker...
Inspiration is a funny thing, you see. It's a bit like a weight lifting, where you start strong but finish weaker, but in reality you are really finishing stronger through your exhaustion. And that's how I feel.

Miss all of you and hope you will be patient with me enough to check back in a few days.

PS: Huck, you gave it a great fight. I, for one, am very proud of you.

Chelsea <3

Collecting [Like] Seashells

When I was little, I used to collect pretty things to take home. I remember finding heart-shaped leaves, smooth pebbles, or seashells that were a little bit broken but still iridescent in quality. When my family traveled to various points of interest, I would find nubbly rocks with streaks of fools' gold throughout. I guess I've always been somewhat of a collector- I still clip things out of magazines, keep pictures here and there, and search through the $1.00 book rack at the dusty and eerily quiet bookstore by my office. I've always enjoyed finding treasures in the imperfect. I always try to find treasures in imperfect situations and people, too. I've accepted that I am just me- I can't be everything to everyone. I can't save the planet or even remember my wallet sometimes. I either underbake or burn cookies and I don't follow recipes. My hair's a mess most of the time and I have more fashion disasters than I care to count. I make B's in class sometimes and I blog when I should be studying.
I think we can learn something from the imperfect. People aren't perfect; circumstances aren't perfect; I'm certainly not perfect. I'm rather achingly average. And you know what? That's alright. Because I know that God uses average people to do extraordinary things. What I lack in natural abilities I achieve through discipline and hard work. If something doesn't come easily to me, I know that I can learn it through time and resources. And if the doors (or windows) aren't opening, that's because it's just not time yet. I'm convinced that one day I'll find my niche and that area that I love, that comfortable place where I know I'm doing my best. Life is a blossom waiting to open, and flowers need both rain and sunshine to bloom to their potential.