Bitter new tunes

This is one of the songs that Greg recorded in Virginia with Brad and Jeanette when we went to visit them last October.  It's called "Bitter" and I'm so proud of the three of them for making such a catchy tune!

Bitter by gregcastle


Enjoy!
 
PS-- In case you were wondering what I was doing while the rest of the house was making music, I was diligently documenting the memories by taking pictures on my phone:
 

Jeanette was on drums...

Greggers was on keys...

...and Brad played bass!

This little muffin slept through the whole thing.

In the works

Here's a little update for you since my last post:

I've talked to my good friend Aimee, who also happens to be an extremely talented photographer, and she's agreed to find time to play "photo shoot" with me in which I get to be the photographer and she'll be my subject! 

This way, I'll get to learn about her schmancy camera (under her supervision), her photo editing software, and any tips of the trade that I might pick up from our session together. 

I'm so excited!

This way, I will get a taste of whether or not photography is something I would actually enjoy, or one of my passing interests (like when I decided to learn guitar, or any prior attempts to teach myself how to knit/crochet, or make my own gourmet smoothies... the list goes on, unfortunately.  But I have good excuses for dropping all of them, folks!)

Here is just a taste of the trouble Aimee and I can get into with a little imagination and her magic camera:

Fine ladies are sporty(?)

Tennessee Williams angst vs. Sherlock Holmes intrigue

Truly outrageous, truly, truly, truly outrageous...

Photos taken a few years ago for a "high fashion" themed birthday party.

Wheeeee!  This is going to be so much fun!

What to do, what to do...

A few things that have been googled on my computer recently:

• Vacation deals
• Dinner recipes
• Basic photography info
• Knitting classes
• Store hours for Samuel French
• Local finds (restaurants, hot spots, shops...)
• How to braid one's own hair, video tutorials
• Tips in budgeting/investing for retirement

Can you tell that I am in search of a new hobby and/or project to sink my teeth into?

I'm boooooored...!

No, but in all seriousness, I NEED to find something to do with myself other than work and sleep. 

I welcome suggestions. 

(Cricket, cricket...)

*****

Meanwhile-- look at how cute these Rigor Tortoise boys are in these pictures I stole from their recent trip to the Dallas Comedy Festival:

Some of the fellas getting interviewed by The Improvised Podcast about their comedy

(The handsome guy in the middle is mine: swoon!)

And all of the fellas enjoying a brewski after a great show

(I give them extra kudos for that strategically placed chandelier in the background)

Welcome home, fellas! 

Los Angeles missed you.  Glad you had fun but even gladder to have you back.

My girls

I had to post this great photo that my friend Aimee took of all the bridesmaids at the rehearsal dinner we attended before last weekend's wedding:

The "hats" we're wearing are actually the rehearsal bouquets that we carried during the run through of the ceremony earlier that evening. Isn't that fun?

Meanwhile...

This weekend was the perfect balance of Lazy vs. Productive for me. 

On Friday, I had a girls' night with my friend Melanie, who's husband was also out of town for the weekend.  She made dinner for us, and then we visited a student gallery that was really inspiring-- it was awesome to feed our creativity like that on a chilly night while our bellies were full of delicious homemade pizza.  After taking in our fair share of photography, graphic design and illustration exhibits, we finally returned home to call our husbands to check in, chat, eat brownies/drink martinis, watch Tangled and chat some more until one of us noticed that it was nearly 1am and we had better call it a night.

Saturday, I tornado cleaned my apartment, did ALL the dirty laundry that Greg and I had piled up in our hamper, listened to a ton of Adele, (especially this song-- so lovely!), called various family members, and played spider solitaire on the computer while watching a girly movie and folding that giant pile of laundry.  It was heaven.

Sunday I ran some errands and then before I knew it, it was time to pick Greg up!  We went to dinner at one of our favorite places because we were so hungry and Greg was absolutely beat from his trip.  Once we got home we put our pajamas on and watched all of our favorite Thursday night TV shows on our computer while we were snuggled under our covers. 

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too!

Happy Friday

This is a shot that I took of the early glimpses of dawn breaking through my watery windshield this morning after dropping Greg off at the airport:

The trees are so green and full and lovely after all the rain we've been getting lately. 

I absolutely love it.  Weather-wise, there is nothing I love more than a heavy rain in Southern California. 

• The way the drops sound as they dance on the roof and clink through the aluminum rain gutters.  The anticipation I still feel as I wait for thunder despite the near decade I've been away from the noisy rain storms we had back in Oklahoma.  I putter around my kitchen wondering what I'm waiting for until I pause and realize that I'm still waiting for that rolling thunder to shake me. 
• The way it smells so fresh and cool and clean, the beautiful blues and greens and grays of the hazy day as the dingy brown smog is washed out of the air and the mountains rise up to their tallest heights with crisp, clear tippy-tops poking through the breaks in the clouds.
• The rush of parking the car and counting to three before throwing open the door and making a run for it.  That delight of darting through the drops when caught in a downpour, and the wonderful cozy warmth of being wrapped in an afghan on my couch when it's damp and chilly outside.
• Having an excuse to make hot chocolate again even though it's almost April, because it just feels so damn good to have a mug of something hot to hold and something sweet to sip while I'm burrowed under that afghan on the couch...

My senses drink it up-- my entire being is soothed and relaxed by the soaking.  My soul feels quenched and in the midst of industrial, urban skylines and concrete everything I am reminded that there is beautiful nature, and it's lovely and unpredictable.  It can't be controlled the way that I flip a switch and have light, or turn a dial and have hot/cool temperatures.  God powerfully moves through the elements and reminds me to be still and know that He is God.

The hairs on my arms stand at attention with the chill of the cool damp, and my muscles unwind as the world on the other side of my windshield wipers slows and creeps at a slower, unhurried pace.  It's in these quiet, pensive rainstorms that I feel blessed with tangible demonstrations of my Creator's movement in my life.

Something to say

You guys, I just found out that the 5th season of Friday Night Lights (which I haven't seen yet -- no spoilers please!) comes out Tuesday, April 5th. 

April 5th = On. My. Birthday!!!


If that isn't a sign to go buy a DVD, then I don't know what is. 
Please enjoy the following images with Explosions in the Sky songs playing through your brain:

Squuueeeaaalll!!!

Deep, Texas-style, contented sigh...

Nothing to say

I've been a little quiet this week because I really don't have anything to write about. 

Also, on Tuesday I got a rush order for two press releases (both due Friday) so I've been doing enough technical writing on the clock to keep me from any blogging lately.

But I thought I'd at least share this-- it's a picture of what's brightening up my desk right now:

My bridesmaid bouquet is hanging in there...

Don't judge my messy desk-- I mentioned those press releases, it's been a long week.

Today was my favorite coworker's last day in the office.  She's moving to New York and I was more sad than I thought I'd be to see her leave. 

Tomorrow morning I put my husband on a plane to Dallas for the weekend.  I have made plans with one of my girlfriends whose husband is also travelling this weekend, and we will most likely make dinner together and watch a girly movie of some sort. 

This weekend I am also researching classes that I could take because I'm going through one of those phases in life that leave me feeling crafty and creative but with absolutely no outlet.  (I'm open to suggestions!)

Tonight Greg has a show and I am walking home because he needed the car and after staring at my computer all day the 3 mile walk actually sounds really nice. 

I love the walk to/from work and would probably walk it more often except that I hate the part that leads me away from the cute residential streets and instead takes me under the freeway.  (That part of the walk is the pits because all the cars blow filth up in my face and hair and I feel like I have exhaust coming from my pores afterwards...)  But other than that one little part my walk is really nice.  So I don't mind the rare occasions when I'm left car-less and forced to trek past cute little homes and lawns and shops.

Welp... yep.

Maybe I'll have something more interesting to write about tomorrow!

Wedding Weekend Recap (in brief!)

This weekend was full of wedding wonderfulness.  It was super busy, but both weddings were really beautiful and I would have hated to have missed either one. 

I'm sure I'll have more pictures to post later, but for now, here are some shots I stole from peoples' facebook pages because I was too forgetful to take my own pics!

Saturday's wedding had a "Childlike Joy" theme and some of the adorable touches were:

A coloring sheet at every place setting...

Rubber duckies in the ice water...

And cartoon cake toppers!

Sunday's wedding had a completely different vibe with an Art Deco theme:

Chandeliers, peacock feathers & orchids

Classic and elegant details that were very clean cut and geometric (ala the "art deco" theme)

...And plenty of toasts to the happy couple!

Both weddings had dancing, and you'll be proud to know that I danced at BOTH.  It was a little easier to hop up at wedding #2 because I had a glass of wine with dinner, but still...!  Proud of me?  (I am too!)  I figured that I'm one of few women in this world that has a husband that will actually dance with her, so sometimes (like, at weddings) I need to buck up and boogie when he invites me onto the floor...

Also, like my wedding nails?

Here's a little tip-- told to me by a former Miss Teen Texas when I was in college-- these pretty little French tips came from a box.  (!!!) 

Yes, it's true, these babies were $6.95 at Walgreens and look like the real deal.  Oh sure, the adhesive that they come with is probably super glue, so I wouldn't wear these press-ons every day or anything, but for special occasions that require a manicured polish, I highly recommend the Broadway brand false nails.  I get the "medium" length for easy sticking and then file them down to a manageable length so that I don't feel like I'm operating with talons.

Like I said, I hope to share more pictures soon, but I never think to take pictures in the moment so I have to wait until the official shots are ready.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the Lord bless and keep you.
May He cause His face to shine upon you.
May He lift up His countenance and grant you peace.

Green bangles.  Bam!

March Madness

Before I launch into this post, I have a confession: I had lunch today with a pretty prominent entertainment journalist and I have nail polish chipping off my fingers and couldn't find a belt this morning.  I never really sweat the small stuff like that, but I try to be put together when I am forced outside my very casual office environment to interact with other working professionals.  We actually had a really great lunch, but all throughout the meal I kept wondering if this tan, coiffed, polished man from West Hollywood noticed that I was clutching my fork like a caveman to hide my cuticles.

Oh well, worst case scenario, I'll just have to be known as the beltless-wonder-who-rocks-nails-like-a-14-year-old.  I guess I can live with that. 

(Deep calming breath)

These are the kind of details that I'm stressing over this week.  When things get hectic, I've noticed that I find comfort in being able to control.  I make lists just so that I can cross things off.  I can sometimes handle disarray in one area of life if I can have complete control in another area in the meantime.  For example, I can wait another day to fold the laundry strewn across the chair in the living room as long as my kitchen is spotless.  Like, I'm talking, not a single dish in the sink.

My schedule feels out of control, so I'm worrying over my missing belt. 
This week is ridiculously busy.  So is this weekend.  And into next weekend.  I know that March Madness usually refers to basketball, but I've begun using it to describe my emotional state this month. 

This weekend, I am attending TWO weddings, one on Saturday in San Diego and one on Sunday in Los Angeles.  I am a bridesmaidzilla. 

(Okay, I'm only technically a bridesmaid in the wedding on Sunday, but I'm still calling myself "bridesmaidzilla" because it helps me to label my crazy and put it in a little box when I feel overwhelmed.)

Also, Greg and I have been car juggling like pros for the past year, and the past couple of weeks we have been turbo juggling because of additional meetings, engagements, appointments, etc. that have been tacked on to our regular routines.  I'm actually sort of proud of us, although I do want to buy a little something as a "thank you" gift for a few ladies who have been graciously giving me rides to/fro during all this madness.  I'll be sure to add that to my list so that I can cross it off.

Next weekend, just when it feels like the madness should be starting to slow down, Greg has to fly to Dallas to perform in a comedy festival with Rigor Tortoise.  Which is great and I know he's looking forward to it, but I'm sure he wishes that he had a week of down time before he has to hop on a plane. 

I just can't help feeling that by this time next week, I'll feel like I have been dribbled, dunked, and run up & down the court in overtime.   Aren't you glad I never make sports analogies on this blog in spite of the occasional sports-themed title?  Me too.

Simple & lovely

This morning Greg dropped me off at the bagel shop around the corner from my office before he reported to the set of the commercial that he's filming today.

It was lovely. 

I had about 40 minutes or so to sit and eat before I needed to head to work for the day.  I sat with my back to the door and listened to the bell ring every time someone entered or left the busy little shop.  I took the plastic lid off my hot coffee and watched the steam swirl and dance above the rim.  I went for the chocolate chip bagel this morning (why the heck not!) and I savored each cream-cheese-covered bite. 

I secretly listened in on the conversation that a group of older gentlemen were having because they were such a happy and boisterous bunch.  Retirees who enjoyed each others company and told old work stories mixed with requests for updates on one another's families.  I think in another life they had all been police officers together, and this must be their morning hang out because I watched the little four-top table they were gathered around practically disappear as more and more smiling faces pulled up chairs. 

It was a really nice morning, and a great way to start a Friday.

*****
In other news, for Lent I decided to give up my snooze button.  I was this close to giving up sugar, which I still might do someday, but although it would have been a great discipline, I don't think I had done enough research on a sugarless diet to have handled it healthily.  (And as I was savoring that chocolate chip bagel this morning, my Lenten decision was confirmed!)

So: no snooze button!  Well, that is, no snooze button abuse.  I have cultivated a very lazy nature in myself by allowing myself to slap snooze multiple times each morning. 

"Just 10 more minutes" always seems so reasonable when my covers are so cozy and the sleep is still lingering so heavily on my eyelids.  Most mornings I manage to oversleep (oversnooze?) because I "just 10 more minutes" myself into a frantic race to make it out the door on time.  Who the heck wants to start their day like that?

When considering possible fasts for this Lenten season, I tried to consider things in my life that distract me from time with God.  The snooze button, as silly as it sounds, popped into my consciousness front and center.

I'm kind of ashamed to say how hard its been.  I've already "cheated" on my only-one-snooze-per-morning allowance and we're only 3 days into Lent.  However, I have done better than I normally do, and I must say that the gift of time in the mornings has been very rewarding. 

Very simple and lovely.

Have a good weekend!

Woohoo Aftermath

It's only Tuesday, and this week has already been amazing.  Of course, we got the good news that I announced earlier today that Greg booked a commercial (hence the "woohoo"), but if you can believe it, my day got even better from there.

Greg and I knew that one of the challenges of this excellent news was that we were going to have to do a lot of fancy juggling with our one car.  I do need access to transportation this Thursday and Friday evening, and it's most likely that Greg will be filming Thursday and/or Friday-- and we have no idea when his call time will be or how long he will be on set-- not to mention where he will be filming... 

All those variable make it a bit difficult to plan.

Last night, we were discussing options and Greg suggested -- gulp -- asking for help from our community.  Let me just say that I hate asking for help.  And I hate asking for rides even more.  But this morning I swallowed my pride and sent a very polite email to my women's group and told them my situation. 

In my mind's eye, I could just see the eye rolls and hear the groans as each of those ladies opened the email containing my annoying favor-- but gueeeesss what!?  Within 10 minutes my inbox was flooded with offers of help: 

• One woman said she and her husband were both available to give me rides both nights should I need them. 
• Three more women individually offered to pick me up and drop me where I needed to go on Thursday night. 
• One woman offered to loan me her own car (meaning, she would be opting not to drive for a few days herself). Her exact words were: "for Thursday and Friday and longer if you need it!" 
• One woman wrote that she couldn't help this time, but told me that she didn't mind giving me rides in the future and to continue to ask her when I found myself in situations like this. 
• Still another woman wrote that while she couldn't help me this time, she was happy that I had asked the group and that in the future she would be happy to give me rides. And then get this: She THANKED ME for setting an example for her because she confessed that she also has a difficult time asking for help outside her comfort zone and she found my annoying favor request inspiring.

I am absolutely blown away. 

I honestly expected that Greg and I might just have to suck it up and rent a car, but I have been blessed and humbled by these loving women and their enthusiasm to be generous. 

I have no idea why these ladies decided to rally behind me on this one, but I am absolutely praising God for this entire year of being a one-vehicle family.  He has used this circumstance to humble me, to nurture a generous spirit within me as I learn to accept generosity from others, He's shown me love in the faces and gestures of every single person who has given me (or Greg) a ride this year, He's taught me more clear communication with my husband as we navigate our ever-changing schedules together, and He's taught me hospitality during the times when I've been "forced" to open my home up to friends that I'm trying to make plans with when Greg has the car.

Thank you, God, for using a silly little car to show me yet another way that you love me, and for using this circumstance to show me how you provide for me.

Woohoo!

Yesterday we got the wonderful news that Greg booked a national commercial!  (Woohoo!)  He got the call from his agent while he was at work and I got a text that said: "I booked it!" while I was talking to my mom on my lunch break. 

What's the commercial for?  Emerald nuts:

I love you, Emerald Nuts!

Apparently, Greg's commercial will be one of three spots that they film, so hopefully it will air at some point in time, but even if it gets cut, he'll still get the day of work on set.  So exciting! 

To celebrate, I considered swinging by the grocery store to buy some Emerald Nuts for him, but then I remembered how much Greg loves cupcakes.  I swung by our neighborhood Yummy Cupcakes instead and picked out these little beauties for him to take to his Rigor Tortoise meeting last night:

Gorgeous, huh? 

The flavors are: peanut butter cup, cinnamon bun, buttered popcorn, old fashioned, sprinkles, and lemon.  (I'm told that the lemon was the best!)

I was watching a movie and playing on facebook last night while Greg was out when this photo from the Rigor Tortoise meeting popped up in my newsfeed:

Dancing and cupcake sharing.  Oh these boys do my heart good!

Borrowed dress

My friend Emily is very stylish, and I'm a bridesmaid in her wedding at the end of the month.  We went out for a girls' night on Saturday to celebrate her bachelorette party (mini golf and celebrity ice cream shops were involved.  Crazy stuff, ya'll.), and we raided Emily's closet for the occasion.

Here's the dress I borrowed:

This was taken at the end of the night-- the shoes had to come off...

Isn't that gorgeous? I think it's vintage 1950's. She had let me borrow some beads too, but I gave them back before I thought to take a picture.

PS-- The ice cream place we visited may have been owned by Melissa Joan Hart, and Greg may have made a really funny joke about a missed opportunity that the shop was not named: "Ice Cream Explains It All." 

(He kills me!)

Hope your weekend was good too!

The Ultimate Compliment

I think I shared this video with you a few months ago when my husband and his comedy team first made this, but it's so appropriate now that I thought I'd repost:


The Ultimate Compliment (A Charlie Sheen Song) from rigortortoise on Vimeo.


It's kind of like they predicted the future, huh?


PS-- My husband is hot.  Especially when he plays the piano.

6 Things I'm Thankful for Today

Here are 6 Things I'm Thankful for Today:

1. Cool, rainy weather and episodes of The Cosby Show on Netflix.
2. A healthy husband who has managed to kick that cold that caught him a few days ago.
3. For the woman who told me last night: "Reading your Bible is all for your benefit, not God's.  God already knows what's in the Bible..."
4. Small victories that feel very satisfying (i.e.: pleasing a client at work, having a sparkling clean kitchen, receiving positive feedback on special personal projects...)
5. All the wonderful women in my life.
6. Scoring this sweet new belt at a clothing exchange last night:

I got this for free, ya'll!

Hair suggestions?

I don't normally post requests for help on this blog, but I'm stressing, so I figured I'd put it out there...

The situation: I'm a bridesmaid in a couple weeks, and I need to figure out how to wear my hair: Stat!  (By tomorrow at the latest.)

The challenge: My hair is super fine, and medium length, so updos can be difficult due to the short whispy hairs at the base of my neck that fall out.  This is a formal wedding with an art deco theme, so I'm looking for a polished look.  I was originally thinking of a low side-chignon/bun/ponytail-ish thing, but the bride is planning on doing something along those lines, so I need to change my plan.

Any suggestions?

This morning I tried practicing putting my hair up.  I basically just twisted and pinned, there was no method to my madness:

Perfect example of those pesky "whispies" that won't stay pinned.  Slippery little suckers...

Any suggestions for me? 
Since I'm doing my own hair, the simpler the better...

The sick

Poor Greggers has caught the sick that's been going around.  It started off with sniffles, but it's grown into a full blown cold that has him bleary-eyed, congested, and sleepy.

I picked him up from work at midnight last night and he took a swig of Nyquil and then went straight to bed.  I gotta say, this kid falls asleep pretty quick normally (unlike me, who will lie in the dark for far too long while my mind whirrs on), but last night may have been a record.

This morning I got ready as quietly as I could and before I left for work, he stirred a bit, so I kissed his forehead, tucked the blankets under his chin and told him to sleep until he couldn't sleep anymore.  (I think he was out again by the time I put my shoes on).

I saw him on my lunch break, and he seemed a bit better.  He has to work from 3-midnight again, but at least he got some good rest this morning.  I'm going to cook up some hot soup for him so that when he comes home on his dinner break he will have something that will feel good on his scratchy throat.  I think I'll serve it with the leftover cornbread that I made this weekend.  I may also cook up an egg for protein, even though that's a weird combination.

Feel better, you little darling-- you're precious to me!

Stay healthy out there!  All this cold weather takes a toll on you after a while.  I may treat myself to a hot bath tonight-- my hands have been cold all day long and I'm ready to feel warm for cryin' out loud!