snowed in

It's cold. And by cold I mean unless your house is literally on fire, it is impossible to be warm. I currently have on some Uggs and a big North Face (thank you E) and I'm still cold. There's a fire in the fireplace, and I've turned up both heaters more than once now. All of this complaining to say that I am thankful that I have power. And water. I know people in Texas who have no heat and their septic is frozen. This means well... Let your 1890's imagination run wild here. Ick.

My boss has been so excited for a snow day, and now that they have just called off day THREE of work, I'm going to have to remind him to be more cautious of what he wishes for. Which brings me back again to the current life dilemma. I can't put forth anymore effort to discuss it, so I'm not going to do so. What I AM going to do is share what I learned today from everyone's dear friend Walt Disney. I have forgotten what great life lessons Mr. Disney had/has by imparting the plain things are the main things. I watched the Princess and the Frog today. GREAT MOVIE. It's set in 1950's-ish New Orleans (or NAHLANNS if you are actually from there) and the short stint that my family did there, makes me wish for some good gumbo and a heaping helping of bread pudding with a side of bananas foster. Anyhow, so the story is based loosely on the 'princess kisses a frog and he turns into a prince' tale, and as life doesn't go the way that everyone hopes and dreams for.... the leading lady starts to realize that it's not striving for what we want that is imperative. It's loving what we need.

I need my family. My dad and his hilarious personification of southpark characters (and his magical ability to change flat tires). My mother and her kind spirit and her contagious laugh. My sister with her opinioniated compassion. My brother with his wit and his edge. My precious sister in law who will speed knit with a book light to make sure I have a warm beanie.

I need my friends. My college roomie RY RY who can sit and watch TLC with me for hours, who can make me laugh no matter what, and will always go get yogurt with me. Shanwow who is my cheerleader when I flunk out and is honest with me about what REAL is. AAQ who proves that succeeding is not a destination, but an ongoing struggle to stay ahead of ones humanistic failure self. ChristinaMariaConsuelaGonzalesBananahammockPicassoSernaFarley who proves that just because it's not a cookie cutter fairy tale doesn't mean that it isn't one. My Morige Porgie Puddin Pie, who loves everyone for who they are. My JohnnaKay who will tell the story again, with the Brooklyn accent and everything for the simple reason that I asked, and who reminds me that it's okay to be sad but it's not okay to live in the pit of dispair.

It's okay to dream. It's okay to reach for the stars. But to realize that you don't need the dream, you need the love, the laughter, and the support of those people in your life who make it worth getting out of bed in the morning. Knowing that you have a strong army to take on whatever the day brings your way is better than anything I could ever dream of.