Tag Archives: Christy Trujillo

The Age of Adaline

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The Age of Adaline - Movie Poster

The Age of Adaline – Movie Poster

Finally saw the Age of Adaline. I’m thoroughly aggravated with all of you for not telling me about it. The only alternative is that none of you have seen it either, in which case, I must insist that you all watch it right this moment. I can’t believe it’s not based on a book. The depth of the story just calls for 1st person or 3rd person omniscient internal dialogue. There is also a bit of voiceover, which is what they typically do when something was a book and they just can’t go without setting up the scene. Can someone write this as a book? Is that allowed? Also, Ellis. He gave her books for flowers. o.O  There are no words. And I’m a writer, for God’s sake.

Sometimes a movie or a book or a piece of art stays with you long after you’ve experienced it. What is so wonderful about this, and often easy to forget, is that this thing that has touched you so deeply, this thing that has truly altered the way you look at the world, was created by another human being. Another person wrote or directed or painted or formed this magnificent piece of forever that you will now carry in your heart for the rest of your life. The world tends to show its ugly more than its lovely, but the lovely is still there. It’s in the things we create, not the situations that happen. It’s in the music and the words and the art within our heart, because despite this ugly world…we are still beautiful.

THE AGE OF ADALINE - 2015 FILM STILL - Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) and Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) - Photo Credit: Diyah Pera

THE AGE OF ADALINE – 2015 FILM STILL – Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) and Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) – Photo Credit: Diyah Pera

The Litter Box Trials – An Experiment in Gratitude

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I have three cats. I love them all, but I do have a favorite. Fenway, which was already his name when we adopted him, is a domestic short hair of the black and white persuasion. He has a very distinct personality. When I get home, he runs to the door – granted he’s just happy I’m home to feed him, but still. If I’m sad, he knows and comes to give me love. He sleeps with me every night. He tries to sleep on my pillow every night, but he’s 17 lbs so that never works out very well and he ends up at my feet. He’s the best cat ever in the history of ever.

Fenway the Cat

Fenway the Cat

But.

Fenway has a digestive issue. Since he was a kitten he has had the most stinky, nasty poo I’ve ever seen come out of a cat. It is always runny and gross and just ew. My husband calls him ‘Funky-Funk’ and ‘The Notorious F-U-N-K’ or sometimes just ‘Notorious’ for short. The litter box has to be scooped out every day and the contents thrown into a plastic bag, which is then thrown in the special ‘poo poo trashcan’ that sits in the garage. The whole litter box is changed (emptied, scrubbed, refilled) by yours truly every weekend. It’s a whole thing.
With all of this nastiness (and if you know me, you know I am NOT one for dirty or nasty things anywhere NEAR my house), one would think I ought to harbor some ill will toward this cat. I don’t. I don’t even mind doing all of these things because if I didn’t do them, I wouldn’t have Fenway.

So.

I’ve been contemplating some things lately, you know, small things like life and my place here in this universe. I’ve also been hearing a lot about being grateful and how this perspective can indeed change your life. Up until last week I wasn’t on board with this concept as it just didn’t resonate with me. I didn’t see how someone could look past a bad situation and find something to be grateful for. Then, I thought of Fenway. Yes, changing a stinky litter box is small in comparison to some of the real shit life throws our way, but for me it was that moment when I finally got it. There is ALWAYS something to be grateful for. Perhaps you’ve guessed by now, but this post isn’t really about my cats. This post is the beginning of what I shall call The Litter Box Trials, which is essentially my commitment to live a more grateful life.
• Areas of focus: Husband, Child, Work, Other.
• My Plan: Gratitude journal, purposefully stop complaining, two gratitude letters per year

I’ll update you in a month and let you know where I stand and the impact this little trial has had on my day-to-day life. While you wait, here is a pic of me snuggling with Fenway.

Me and Fenway

Me and Fenway