Thankvember 11/29

Because I'm doing everything backward yesterday & today, here are photos of Sarah & Jamen's sweet girls! (see yesterday's post if you don't get the backwards reference)

Charis (left) and Alathea :

Sarah says they like to be touching one another - probably because they've spent their whole lives up to this point in veeerrry close quarters, and are comfortable all up in each other's space. Note the overlapping legs and arms (gah! precious!).

Charis is older by about 14 minutes, but almost a whole pound smaller than Alathea (they are both under 6 lbs). Their names are the Greek words for grace and truth. Everyone in the family is doing great. :)

Ok, now on to the rest of the post.

Please watch the following video:

So kids, the moral of the story is, don't underestimate the power of dreams. Sometimes you can just attribute them to the hawaiian pizza from the night before, and sometimes - if you're lucky - they're ...MAGICAL.  :D

p.s. As much as I enjoyed sharing my epic, life-changing dream with you, I also really like hearing about people's dreams. I know they won't be as amazing as my R. B. dream, but I'm sure some of them hold entertainment value.

p.p.s. I also want to clarify that I do not find Russell Brand attractive in the least. He was adorable in Arthur, but not attractive. That was not the point of the dream. ...Just making sure you got that.

Thankvember 11/28

Today, I am thankful for the amazing, stunning and awesome gift of new life.

My childhood friend Sarah just gave birth today to twin girls, Charis and Alathea.  (BOSS, you can expect a phone call tomorrow morning ^_^)

I'm thankful that we, human beings, have the power to create life. I mean... Wow!  I'm just currently in a state of bogglement over the fact that there are now 2 more precious and lovely individuals in this world. (No, I haven't met the girls yet, but I know they are lovely because I know their mother. And it goes without saying that they are infinitely precious.)

Babies! Birth! New Life! I know it's stated all the time, but these two girls are kind of miracles - just in their very existence. Magnificent, noisy, exhausting miracles.

I can't wait to meet them.

Congratulations Sarah & Jamen. Wish I was there to bring you meals and ooh and aah over your daughters.  <3

Also, congratulations to Sarah's parents, for getting 2 granddaughters to match your current 2 grandsons. Also, Beth, Brandon, Becky, Martha & Jimi, same about your new nieces. :)

Here's a photo of Russell Brand:

He has nothing whatsoever to do with this post, but he has everything to do with tomorrow's post.

....

P.s. Today I'm also thankful for some other awesome stuff, because I only have 2 more days of Thankvember! (Which started out as ThankSvember, and lost the "s" somewhere along the way...):

Zumba!
Freedom!
Hats!
Chocolate cake!
Chapstick!
Aaaand, the spirit of excitement that infects people during Holidays.

Good night, dear readers.

Thankvember 11/27

Today, I am thankful for photographs!

And I'm thankful for my poor point-and-click camera, which is dying a surprisingly slow and painful-looking death. I have no idea what magic Fujifilm glue is keeping its pieces together, but it is quite literally hanging together at this point. (Time for a christmas present for myself, non? ^_^) It's too bad I can't take a photo of my camera to show you the damage. Just use your imagination.

This particular camera only dates back to the first several months of my job at Little Linguists Int'l Preschool. It got a crazy-intense workout that year! We took photos of our kids almost daily, and posted them on a share site for the parents to melt over (well, and us, too). It was also toddler-handled by the occasional classroom thief-cum-photographer. So, really it's impressive that this relatively cheap machine managed to live through that year AND a brief but turbulent visit to Asia AND a year and 1/2 in the muggy swamplands that are New Orleans.

I had a point-and-click camera before this one that was even more stalwart - it made it through 3 years of college, a semester abroad, AND a year in Europe.

I'm pretty rough on my digital cameras, so if you happen to know of a hardy, travel-friendly brand please let me know. I'm in the market.

I am crazy about photographs. I dig MY photographs - ones that dredge up memories, smells, nostalgia, feelings. I get a kick out of photos of people I love. I also enjoy looking at photos taken by true artists, professionals, and lucky amateurs.

It's brilliant. Capturing a moment, not even that, a fraction of a moment. Or an expression. Or a phenomenon.

I don't have a really great memory for the past. Never have had. I can tell you exactly who is sleeping in each bed in this hostel at this moment, first and last names, but not for last month. (Or last week, erm)

So, photos are a beautiful thing to me - one of the most visceral ways of reminding myself of my LIFE. Of things forgotten. Of what's important... or not so important, but hilarious, perhaps. Or just an event. Or person. Or flower or food or animal or sunrise/set/view.... Everything!

Tonight, Adam and I took a lot of photos so we could flirt with the idea of sending out Christmas cards (don't get your hopes up.). I looked back through them, and just have the biggest smile plastered on my face right now. I grinned the entire time it took to tweak and edit them a twitch. I'm smiling now, just thinking about them.

I think I owe this blog an apology. Frankly, I believe that my fellow bloggess, the Ginger Penny Pincher, put it correctly when she stated that every post should really have at least one picture for everyone to look at, even if it's a completely off-topic photo of her dogs.

So! I'm going to do my utmost to uphold this utterly astute objective. (Nod to your penchant for alliteration, GPP ^_^) Apologies for all the boring, picture-deprived posts you've had recently, which I am sure you read through in entirety despite the lack of visual stimuli. Riiiight?

Anyways, fear not! Here are some very on-topic pics from our twinkly photo shoot in the hostel office tonight:

Mad hatters

"Office Workers"

Handsome

Thankvember 11/26

Doggone...here it is, getting later and later, and I'm just now typing up this post. I can't spend too long writing, because I gots to get my beauty sleep - especially now that I am SO CLOSE to kicking this flu/cold/whatever out the door. I probably should pick a different topic to talk about tonight, but I can't wait any longer. I've been holding out on this Thankful Note since day 1, because it's a special one. And thus SHOULD be a super-long, fuzzy-sentimental  epic. But I'm keeping it short. And real.

Today, I'm thankful for my family.

Really thankful.

I'm related to the most wonderful, creative, loving, talented, funny and enjoyable people in the world.

We started as 7. Daddy-O, Maman, Dan the Man, Andrew Boneman, Rob Bud-Lite, & Grace ma Petite Tamia.

But not really just 7, because there are aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents and great-uncles and nieces and nephews who are all a part of our family, for better or worse. And all these people add up to even more wonderfulness.

And then there were the "adopted" family members (you know who you are!), who slipped easily into our family, and were happily welcomed.

And the families & individuals that in turn adopted me. (Again, you know who you are, you fabulous people!)

And then there was Adam.

And with my handsome hubby came a whole 'nother slew of wonderful, loving, creative, funny, talented and enjoyable family members: parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, etc. I am so lucky, because I love my in-law families very much, and feel loved and welcomed in return.

And then came Lily, and more wonderful, loving funny, talented enjoyable and creative people.

And soon there will be more members added to our ever-growing family.

The craazy and awesome part of all this FAMILY is that I really like these people!

And starting on Dec. 15th, 2011, I'm going to have opportunity after opportunity to meet up with and hang out with and love on *almost* all of them.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand....

I am so ready for the 15th.

Thankvember 11/25

Today, I am thankful for NyQuil.

I know, I know - I already said I was thankful for modern medicine. But frankly, that's the foremost thought in my head today. I'm REALLY ready for this cold/sickness/whatever to be gone, and NyQuil had better be my savior tonight. :)

On a completely sincere note, Today, I'm also thankful for inspiration. Those glorious spurts of brilliance or imagination that can spur us on to great things - or in today's case, great ideas.

Not giving anything away, but I feel happy thinking about the new ideas and dreams floating through my head.

It's the same happiness I feel when inspiration hits Adam to write. Inspiration... is a marvelous thing.

And on that note, I'm going to let the NyQuil take over. G'night!

Thankvember 11/24

TODAY is the BIG DAY!:

The day that inspired these 30 days of Thankfulness.
I don't remember who it was on facebook who inspired me to begin this Thankvember month (Brandi?), but I'm so happy you did. It's been a refreshing and delightful way to spend my last full month in New Orleans. I noticed someone else (who's also doing the 30 days of Thankfulness on FB) said that it gets harder as you get further along in the month, implying that they were running out of choices. I disagree! I feel like I could write a post a day for the rest of my life detailing something else for which I'm thankful.

:
Friends,
jobs,
family members,
memories,
childhood,
future hopes,
lessons learned,
gifts received,
physical capability,
mental capability,
awards earned,
talents acquired,
love shared,
freedom...
...
...
...

But this is what I'm thankful for TODAY (as tweeted earlier today):

unicornlury Anna Bellury Volle

Day 24 of Thankvember: I'm thankful for THANKSGIVING DAY! Despite historical inaccuracies & blatant greed, it still reminds us to give thanks <3

 

Nothing is perfect. Not history, not this mixed-up-yet-proud country, not the people in it. There are negatives to every positive. As stunning as it was to see those 10+ families camped out in front of Best Buy on WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON to prepare for Black Friday, I know that there are 10 more families sharing meals and quality time together and being thankful for what they've got. 

As much I agree with the Aussie girl in our hostel kitchen chirping about what a load of rot this holiday's history is, I can't help loving what it has been for me and my family/friends. We've always had enough. We have more than enough, now. We are blessed. We are loved.

And I am so thankful.

So thanks, Thanksgiving, for reminding me of all this.

Thankvember 11/22 & 11/23

Oof, that headache from two days ago morphed into an actual illness, so forgive my fuzzy-headed forgetfulness.

Yesterday, I was thankful for public transportation. Buses, trams, streetcars, ferries, trains, and everything in between. Especially the funiculars in Switzerland, because they are without a doubt the coolest way of getting around any town.

Today, I'm thankful that someone else is cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year. :) Last year it was husband and I cooking for approx 50 people, and I was one cranky cranky bear. This year, the bosses themselves are doing it all. I plan on sitting back in the office and staying out of their way! (Though, I may just have to cook a couple chocolate pies, for tradition's sake...)

Everyone out there traveling (Fam, I'm wishing I was in NYC with you!), be safe, eat hearty, and be thankful for the good stuff.

Thankvember 11/21

Today, I'm thankful for modern medicine.

Headache? Helloooo Motrin! (This is today)
Upset stomach? Helllooooo Pepto Bismol!
Allergies? Helloooo Claritin!

I don't like taking pills, but I sure love that I have the option. Life expectancy 100 years ago was approximately 52 years-of-age. These days, it's not unusual to live twice that long.

It's a good time to be alive.

Thankvember 11/20

Today, I am thankful for Libraries.

Much closer to being the best invention of humans than washing machines. :)

Walking into a library is like walking on sacred ground, a hallowed place. I have fantasies of eventually owning a house/hostel/home with a massive library straight out of Beauty & the Beast (well, maybe not quite that big. Seems like a dusting nightmare. Then again, if I'm wealthy enough to have that house and all those books, I could probably hire a housekeeper ^_^).

"My library is dukedom enough" wrote Shakespeare, and it's true. Books are riches in our house, and the hardest part of moving from country to country for both Adam and I is having to say goodbye to so many bound pieces of paper.

But public libraries? Free books at my fingertips? Available to anyone with the interest to sign up and check them out? What brilliance!


The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library.  ~Malcolm Forbes

(more library quotes here!) 

Thankvember 11/19

Today, I am thankful for washing machines. Thanks for making it easier to clean the mountain of stinky laundry we generate and transform them into the neatly folded piles of fresh, sweet-smelling garments that are currently gracing the floor of our little loft.

I love clean clothes almost as much as I love clean sheets. Also, fabric softener. (Thank you, Downy).

*inhales deeply and sighs happy sigh*

Thankvember 11/18

Today, I'm thankful for roads and sidewalks and metro systems and highways and byways.

NOLA may have really crappy roads that desperately need repair, and Atlanta's roads may have waaaaay too much traffic (plus, MARTA sucks), and highways sure can get boring on long road trips

BUT

our lives are immeasurably easier and better because of them.

I'm adventurous, and I love taking the road less traveled by, but for all the other days when cutting straight across the field of cotton is out of the question, I'm grateful for ugly, cracked pavement.

Thankvember 11/17

Today, I am thankful for my iPod.

I was stuck at an internet-less Subway sandwich shop/gas station for 1.5 hours, and yet was not in the least bored. I had forgotten to bring my hard-cover borrow from the library, but I DID have my handy-dandy iPod Touch in my purse. Hooray!

I whipped that baby out and proceeded to play Quordy & Angry Birds while listening to a couple chapters on my audiobook ("Ape House" by Sara Gruen, of "Water for Elephants" fame). I then studied my Korean vocab words, then played a couple of Italian language games, and finished up my chilly wait (Really Subway?? AC when it's in the low 50s? Grrr.) by reviewing the "Notes" in my "Notepad." (A telling look into my psyche: the notes are titled "Karaoke songs I like" "States and Capitals Song" and "Thank you notes to be written")

This little iPod may not have a 2-way camera, may not be the latest model, and it may be a little clunky-looking, but it has been without a doubt the most useful hostel find of our time here. I am forever grateful for the forgetfulness and indifference of whichever kind soul decided he/she didn't care enough about the iPod to try and track it down, thus sealing its fate as MINE.

Little iPod, I love you.

Thankvember 11/16

Late again...Wrote this YESTERDAY:

TODAY, I am thankful for my fully-functional vocal cords. I am reminded of this fabulous gift in the light of my imminent  escapade to Little Tokyo's private Karaoke rooms with my hubbs and friend Mariya + her Adam. (20 minutes or so from now)

I think karaoke is one of the most brilliant inventions of man. Singing is (most of the time) one of those natural highs - belting, warbling, crooning, and yodeling are all forms of personal expression and FREEDOM. Be loud! Use your diaphragm for once! Emote! Sing!

I LOVE SINGING.

In Korea, Adam and I used to go to Karaoke joints, get a private karaoke room, then sing whatever we wanted to sing, just the 2 of us, without worrying about the other liking/knowing the song. UBER FUN.

I also owe thanks to my family for this particular joy, because my childhood pretty much was "The Bellury Family Musical." We all love singing and making music and sharing that music among friends and fam. Mom and Dad were always singing/playing songs on the piano. Now all my siblings EXCEPT me are in bands - some of them in multiple bands. Music means a lot to us.

And to further illustrate the point... I will never forget the utter hilarity of a particular moment in my family's musical history: we were all 7 (I think) sitting down to dinner, and we had 2 guests, Mary G and Hamilton B. Someone said the word "clover."
And at the exact same moment - I KID YOU NOT - every Bellury at the table not only broke out into Tommy James' song "Crimson & Clover" but used our index fingers to vibrate our vocal chords to mimic the sound of the chorus. I think we might have scarred Mary for life, hopefully in some  positive way. ^_^

Singing at the top of my lungs is akin to spontaneous dancing for me - an explosion of Anna-guts that feels oh-so good to release without inhibition. Of course, we all have inhibitions in public, to one degree or another. Theatre was one delightful way I was able to dramatize myself (does that sentence work? Whatever.), and I miss it. I'll have more opportunities to dip my toes back into theatre in the future, but for now I will grab any opportunity to share some laughs and songs in Karaoke rooms and big open spaces. :)

Thankvember 11/15

Today, I am thankful for my violin. It isn't fancy or expensive or even atmospherically beat up, but it belonged to my grandfather, Papa B, and he gave it to me when I decided I was going to start learning the instrument.

Actually, I decided I wanted to learn violin a looooong time ago. There were even a few group lessons I took as a kid, but that didn't last long, for one reason or another. Violin has always been one of my favorite instruments, if not my favorite, most likely due to my penchant for the dramatic/emotional. String instruments are very emotional. :)

I have had the PRIVILEGE of taking lessons at an incredible price - from a talented musician - for the past  year (give or take a month). Tucker was my first violin teacher, but be assured that he won't be my last. Today however, was my last lesson - for New Orleans at least. I made it through the first Suzuki book for violins, and look forward to completing many many more books, lessons and pieces of music.

Papa B's violin will accompany me wherever I go, from now on, and wherever we end up, I plan to find an instructor and take lessons. In Korea, even the elementary school kids play violin better than I, so it shouldn't be hard. :D





Also: grateful for music, for the band Leahy and all the inspiration they've given me over the years, all the gadgets and accoutrements my parents got me for christmas one year (see mom? It was worth it!).

Play it again, Sam.

Thankvember 11/14

Today, I'm thankful for laughter.

For jokes and gags and puns and riddles. For those really really TERRIBLE jokes I learned at Boy Scout camp or from Mr. Gezo (they still make me laugh). For silly movies ("Blades of Glory" "Young Frankenstein") and brilliantly hilarious movies ("A Fish Called  Wanda" "Oscar") and movies so BAD they are hilarious (special mention goes to "serious" drama "The Lake House" for the best unexpected laugh I've ever had over a film - really, it brought tears of glee to our eyes).

For the people in my life gifted with a couple extra funny bones who always have something cheering or witty or ROFL-crazy to say. For uncontrollable giggle fits. For the lovely laugh lines on the faces of people who've really loved life and lived it fully.

For comedians and newspaper funnies. For the jokes section in Reader's Digest - the only part I read for most of my life. For joy that just has to bubble beyond ear-to-ear grins into a full-hearted laugh. For that aching belly pain that comes when you've been laughing too long.

They say laughter is really great medicine. To every person who's ever made me laugh - thanks for extending my life by just that much more.

Here's a bit of funny and a smattering of hilarious and a healthy dose of ROFLs (Warning: foul language in last link) to end this note. :D



p.s. Happy birthday to my funny Bro-in-law, Drew/Jared! I thought 3 brothers was more than enough, but it turns out that one more was just exactly right.

Thankvember 11/12 & 11/13

So, I'm terrible at this apparently. I remembered to post for today and yesterday only after Adam had tucked me into bed tonight and my eyes were closing. Ah well, remember I did!

Yesterday, I was thankful for stories. I've just finished an engrossing tale called "Middlesex" and the same day began a new book: "The Hunger Games." I've been a voracious reader ever since the day I first realized that I was reading the book in my lap, "Zella, Zack & Zodiac" by Bill Peet. I think I was 4 or 5.

The unquenchable thirst for story drives me to libraries and bookstores, movie stores and Netflix, Audible.com and the internet. I'm a sucker for a good story.  They fuel my imagination and hopeful dreams, they appease in some ways my lust for adventure and in other ways just egg me on. They remind me of  what is best and worst in mankind.

Today, I'm thankful for food. Glorious, delicious, life-giving food. chicken packets, fresh fruit, Whole Foods Market, Curry & naan, BREAKFAST, BFD, BFL, desserts, leafy greens, fudge, cereal... I have discovered that even worse than going to the grocery store when hungry is browsing pinterest.com while hungry. Never in my life have so many saliva-producing glands been activated at the same time. The terrible thing about looking at food online is that it has ZERO satisfaction - unlike a grocery store, where you can almost immediately stuff your face - you can only gaze longingly at the mouth-watering delicacies online. Unless of course, you're up to attempting to recreate the dishes in your own kitchen (I'm not). But I digress.

I love food. How wonderful that the process of nourishing our bodies is so thoroughly enjoyable. This is especially true here in New Orleans. These people know how to eat out! Adam and I have both put on a couple pounds, and frankly, don't regret a glorious bite (though, we are trying to be faithful about our gym attendance!).

At this precise moment, I'm dreaming of the future moment when I'll be able to put something like this in my mouth:

Or this:

Or this:

OR these!:

And on that note, drooling readers, I'm off to bed.

Thankvember 11/11/11

Well, on the day that features my favorite number in triplicate, now seems a great moment to backtrack a couple of weeks.

Today, I'm thankful for my LIFE. I'm healthy, whole, happy. I have food and money and family and friends. I have travel opportunities and work options and optimism about the future. I have everything I need and more.

I made it to my 26th birthday on October 25th, and I'm so thankful for the beautiful kaleidoscope that is my life.

This might sound morbid, but during those special, crystallized moments when time stops for a couple of seconds and you realize exactly how amazing life really is - in those moments, I realize that I could die happy.

However, I have absolutely no intention of dying anytime soon, even though I did get all of the physical objects that I wanted for my birthday ^_^ :

Printed copy of the comic book Adam wrote for me!

Makes me tear up every time I read it

Little Anna and her magical visit to Narnia

Glorious pages

childhood dream fulfillment :)

Afterword Adam wrote to finish the print job

Dedication that makes me swoon

TOE SHOES!! (They are awesum.)

 A strawberry Napoleon and a Cafe Viennois *swoon* :

These were the objects I wanted (and got!) for my birthday. But I got MORE, too!:

Balloons!

Phone calls!

Fruit flowers!

Candy!

Books!

Letters!

I am the luckiest girl and the world. <3

Thank you to all my fam and friends for the love!

Thanksvember 11/10

Today, I am thankful for rest.
For sweet little naps stolen during busy days.
For much-needed days off.  (today!)
For the prospect of whole weekends off in South Korea.
More immediately, for the prospect of a month plus of vacation and rest with family and friends.

Work is invigorating, and change is challenging, but rest is revitalizing.

Thanksvember 11/9

Today, I am thankful for kisses.

All kinds of kisses, of course: sloppy baby smooches from toddlers, cheek bisous from friends, forehead pecks from moms (kisses from animals are excluded, as they gross me out a little bit. Sorry, pooches.).

But above all, I'm thankful for kisses from my love. I waited a looong time to get his kisses ...and it turns out that they were so very worth the anticipation. Sometime around the age of 12 (?) I decided that I wasn't going to kiss anyone until my wedding day. Amazingly enough, this wasn't really hard all the way up until my 6-month-long engagement. I don't think it was the "right" way to do romance, so to speak, but I don't regret it at all.

This is probably a leetle bit of TMI for some of you, but today has just been one of those days when I honestly can't get enough of my husband. To merely look at him is to want to touch him, hold him, pepper him with kisses and be kissed in return. (How many more times can I insert the word "kiss" into this post?  :D sorry folks)

And they just keep getting better and better.

(Ok, ok: I'm done with the MUSH!)

xoxo

Thanksvember 11/7 and 11/8

Oops, missed yesterday! *blush*

But that doesn't mean I wasn't thankful...

Yesterday, I was thankful for anticipation. I'm a huge fan of adventure and excitement and changes, and part of what I like about all that is the tingling expectancy that leads up to any type of change or adventure. Right now, I'm AWASH in it. One more month (only!) in New Orleans, before changing states, ending a job, starting holiday celebrations, seeing dear ones again, traveling, vacationing, and eventually ending up in South Korea again to begin a fresh life experience. I can't wait, and yet I love the waiting almost as much as the experiences.

Today, I'm thankful for girlfriends. I have so many beautiful women I count as dear friends. Tonight I managed to call 2 of them, as well as talk to my sister and sister(-in-law).  Hearing their voices made me miss their company, their hugs, their words, THEM period. I felt like calling up everyone! There are few women as lucky as I when it comes to friend quality - diverse, rich, spicy and endlessly delightful. These strong, beautiful, intelligent ladies inspire me. Each one has qualities I admire and try to emulate, whether it be presence of mind, organizational skills (don't laugh), character strength, fashion sense, adventurous spirit, loyalty, compassionate heart... I could go on and on. Thank you, girlfriends, for letting me share your lives and be a part of them. I miss you.

A special note for my NOLA girls: Jess, Mariya and Nicki. I don't know how I would have made it through this year without you, and I'm determined to see you as much as possible before leaving. Thanks for the hugs and shared meals and cappuccinos. Xoxo, bisous, baci baci!

[TAGS: november, giving thanks, thankgiving, girlfriends, Adetola, Alex, Amber, Becky, Beth, Courtney, Danila, Grace, Hyo Jeong, Irina, Jess, Julie, Lily, Lindsay, Liz, Maria Elena, Mariya, Martha, Mary, Natacha, Nicki, Nicky, Priscilla, Rachel, Sallie, Sarah, Tiffany, And So Many More, ...]