Grime and Gripe

I've been dutifully blogging each Wednesday night after Tango, so I can't stop now, but I'm lacking the creative muse, if you will. So we shall call this the Incoherent Edition.

My glasses are extraordinarily dirty. Several eyelashes are stuck on various parts of the glass, and I don't even see them until I take my glasses off, which makes no sense because I am basically blind. There's a disgusting stripe of who knows what on the far right lens. What kind of grime is happening to my face in the course of an average day that I am completely unaware of??

Moving on.

I agreed to do this half marathon and I have only run six miles so far, which is less than half of half the distance I'm slated to run. At this pace, I will complete the half marathon by Valentines day.

Speaking of Valentines, this year I spent mine in a whirlwind trip to New York City for a girls weekend. Why did I mention Valentines twice? (thrice). Now I'm depressed. And you know what? I'll say it again. Why did Hollywood ever, ever, think that making He's Just Not That Into You a Valentines movie was a good idea? As if we ladies aren't acutely aware of this fact already, you had to go point it out on the big screen, on the very day we had to buy our own stupid candy hearts just so we would have them. Nice move, Tinseltown.

This Saturday is the annual Halloween swing dance. I'm on the hunt for some ill fitting grey pants so I can go as Casey Anthony. 

Sign me up

Jeans and heels. Who knew.
...............

Tonight was week three of tango class. We learned promenade rocks and simple (not simple) walking techniques to move around the dance floor. Here is what it should look like (give me some music, people!). I'm loving this class. I don't know how much of it is because it's dancing, or because I like learning new things, or because it's tango (ooh-la-la), but I'm loving this.

And so I'm inspired to make a little list of the classes I've taken in the last few years just because I'm addicted to all things learning. In other words, if you call something a class, I will probably give you my credit card and sign up.

• Gourmet cooking class
• Line dancing class
• Improv class
• Tango class
• Swing 6 count
• Lindy hop
• Acting essentials at Mad Cow Theatre 
• And of course three years of seminary, not because it could lead to any career, but just because I found it interesting. So I might as well throw in....
• Hebrew

Oh yeah, I also took a financial planning course (three cheers for Dave Ramsey) but I stopped going after the first week so it really shouldn't count. (I did it on my own. Stop your judging).   

So what should I do next? Suggestions? Don't say painting. And I'm not crafty. 

  

On Steve Jobs, Edward, and black turtlenecks

Steve Jobs died today. If you are just now learning that from my blog, go buy yourself an iPhone, get connected, and see for yourself how this man has changed the world.

I first fell in love with Steve Jobs when Noah Wyle played him in a made for tv movie called The Pirates of Silicon Valley. Yes, I dutifully taped it on VHS and watched it many times. And yes, I had an Apple computer long before they were the sexy piece of machinery they are today. Back when an apple was colored. With stripes.

I found out he died, ironically -- or perhaps instead, but of course -- through my iPhone. I got in my car after dance class and on my phone was a breaking message from CNN that he was gone at 56. Frankly, I was shocked at how immediately sad I felt. The world seems emptier tonight. So this is what it feels like to have a legend die.

But before I found out this sad news, I was dancing. Tonight was week 2 of Tango class. I made some new friends, got invited to go out dancing this weekend (does it sound like I'm writing a letter home from summer camp?), and even was told I had really long legs (that's right, baby). We learned a new move called the Corte which is a Spanish word meaning lunge forward (but not like in jazzercise), don't wobble, and turn your head so far away that a vampire would want to bite your neck. Here, this is how it should look. The vampire thing is no joke.

Two to Tango

Hoping this move comes in for Week 2

Today was the first day of the rest of my life. There's a whole new world out there. And it's called the Tango.

Tonight I took my first of an eight-week series class on Beginner Tango and I am hooked (that's a dance term for quick slide your leg, tap your foot, turn your head, and look super sexy doing it). Oh. my. goodness. In one hour, I learned the basic step, the promenade, and enough to know that my shoe budget will be radically increased. Pronto.

Oh the shoes.

Let's take a little look, shall we?

I love heels. For the life of me, I don't understand why I do not wear them more often. I have a hunch that it's because the floor in the rotunda at work is super waxy or possibly because heels force you to walk a wee bit slower and I love a good power stride, but whatever the reason I need to get over it. Because one day I'll have arthritis and won't be able to. And there are many things that can go on my Regret List one day, but not wearing heals should not be one of them.

Back to the class. Ready to learn tango with me? It's slow - slow - quick, quick - slow. Or, T-A-NG-O! So that's the basic.

In case you're wondering, I'm not giving up on Swing. I like swing. Swing is fun. Swing has cute shoes and adorable clothes. Swing is kinda like the girl next door. Now if Tango was the girl next door, she would be Bathsheba.

Summer Recap :: the multimedia edition

As today is the unofficial last day of summer, it's only fitting that I do a summer recap. That and I have no Labor Day plans, so there you go.

My summer travel included that number one vacation destination: Bangalore, India. (check out the photos).  I also hit Charleston and San Francisco. But my favorite lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer were spent in my hometown of Windermere. There's just something about walking down dirt streets to the lake, eating soft serve ice cream, and spending time with my cousins and family that says maybe, just maybe, I really could be a Gilmore Girl.

best hat ever

Everybody loves Matthew!

Matthew, me, Emi, Kristin, Jake, Mary, Jessica

Summer was also spent running. Unbelievable, but it's true. So we can call this the summer of the smoothie. Vanilla almond milk, frozen strawberries, and half a banana is the recipe for bliss. Pure headache-inducing brain freeze bliss. But it's worth it. Oh so worth it.


We can't forget the great summer prediction where I posted on here that Casey Anthony would get off. That Daily Casey was good stuff, if I do say so myself. I cannot wait for Jeff Ashton's book to come out. can. not. wait. My sister beat me to the pre-order line for the library edition! Noooo!


This was also the summer of the podcast. With all that running, I listened to a lot of messages, but this one was definitely a repeater: the Staying in Love series. Big time recommend it. If you're married, single, or married and wish you were single (uh-oh!), put your headphones on and listen away. It's entertaining, challenging, and meaningful.

Ironically, the best part of my summer wasn't documented by a single picture or facebook status. Sometimes life takes you by surprise and the highlights aren't events, but the people you meet along the way. I hit the jackpot this summer.

And so I leave you with a happy summer song that really, really does not have christian values, but makes me smile and dance every single time I hear it. Now i'm off to pain my toenails pink one last time.

the price of cheap

There comes a point in every woman's life when she finds herself in a Walmart dressing room, actually believing that the clothes look cute on her, and is forced to ask the question: Did Walmart change....or did I?


There is no good answer to this question. But if you see me in a turquoise top, just say, "Is that J.Crew? It looks fantastic on you."

An attempt to escape the funk

I'm in a bit of a writing funk these days and that's an unfortunate place to be when you are trying to maintain a blog. But if I've learned anything from running these past five weeks it's this: it doesn't get any better. Let this be a sign unto you. This entry has already reached its high point and is rapidly plummeting.

Speaking of funks, I'm also in a book funk. I made it through four this summer but I have nothing good on the horizon. And I've learned that I simply cannot read books on the iPad. (Correction, iPad2. Love to throw that in). Even Will & Kate: a Love Story. (yes, I downloaded it). Couldn't do it. I like physical pages. And bookmarks. And the sound of a book closing. And by golly I hate the ding of a new email right in the middle of a paragraph and I have to lose my spot just to read it. And invariably the email is a severe weather update from the National Weather Service which tells me absolutely nothing concrete other than there are bad storms somewhere between Cape Canaveral  and Key Largo and I should probably stand in a doorway somewhere and turn off all electronics. But go to NOAA.gov to find out more details.

You should know that if you live in Orange County, you can download eBooks for free. So, no. I did not pay to read about Will. Although he's worth it. But taken.

One more thing -- if you are one of the twelve people who has left me a voicemail in the past few weeks, I haven't listened to it yet. The way some people view getting a root canal is the way I view listening to voicemail. Or watching YouTube videos. Hope your message wasn't urgent.

Uniform

I read an article about an article that said the less decisions you had to make a day, the better your brain function. It possibly even said you would make better decisions on the decisions you had to make, if you made fewer of them. (I lightly skimmed the article).

All this is to say, presumably we would be making better decisions overall if we individually wore uniforms, thereby eliminating at least one major to semi-major daily decision (depending on your particular level of self-confidence).

Behold, my vision for the workforce:

Question of the day: do you think a "uniform" helps you perform better? It appears to work for Steve Jobs! 

P.S. This is a boring post. But you guys wanted me to write more often, so here's a taste of your own medicine. Okay, that didn't work. Fill in the appropriate cliche to indicate 'it serves you right. deal with it.' (I am not a compassionate person).

Call me Mary Ann

In the Harold Camping spirit of prophecy and doomsday, how can we not forget that fateful voyage back in 1964. The voyage of the S.S. Minnow. 


(Fact #1: I am using "Harold Camping" so that I appear in more Google search results. I am coy and cunning like that. Fact #2: I don't know if this will work.)


It just-so-happens (fate, perhaps?) that I am teaching high school Sunday school on the major and minor prophets. Because this huge, gigantic, large portion of the Bible is rarely taught, I decided to write a song with a catchy tune so it would stay with us. Forever. And I made those poor high schoolers sing it. Out loud. For the past two weeks.

And so I entrust my song to you, dear Google, without a copyright, on my poorly designed website. Sing it to the tune of "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle." See the connection now?

Ode to the Prophets

by Karin Tome

(to the tune of "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle"

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of Israel

That started with King David, and his mighty throne.

He set up camp in Jerusalem and brought the Ark back home,

United the tribes, twelve in all, and all was right and well.

And all was right and well....

The good ol' days in Israel didn't end with Dave,

His son, wise King Solomon, followed all his ways.

He built a temple for the Lord, but much to his chagrin

His son Rehoboam, didn't fit right in.

He didn't fit right in....

His bad decisions cause the worst, the twelve tribes split in two

From one united Israel, hey now, look at you.

In the south called Judah, Jerusalem its own.

The northern half called Israel, the first in line to go

The first in line to go.....

Assyria attacked it first and caught them by surprise

Babylon came for the south, which led to their demise.

Surprised they were, but needlessly, for God had sent His voice

Fifteen men at different times, giving them a choice

Giving them a choice...

At first a call to repent, "Come back to the Lord!"

But since they didn't heed the call, they fell to the sword.

The people cried, "Messiah, come! Fix our broken mess"

In restoration you will see, Christ fulfills the rest

Christ fulfills the rest.....

Under the Assyrians, the prophets brave and true

Spoke to the people in the north, that's Israel to you.

Amos, Jonah, Hosea, but wait, that's not all

Micah, Isaiah, Nahum, proclaimed a coming fall.

Proclaimed a coming fall.....

Later the Babylonians, took the South right on

The prophets came to Judah, and Jerusalem was gone.

Ezekiel and Obadiah, Habakkuk and Jeremiah

They said defeat would surely come 'cause God is not a liah

God is not a liah...........

Finally in later years, restoration came

In these prophets, hope would come, Christ would be his name

Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi and Joel

The Testament had finally closed, what we call the Old

What we call the Old.........

I'm gonna be a......

It sounds like the word of the day is "write more!" Well, fine. Aren't you a demanding bunch? Also, that is two words.

Actually, in all sincerity, thank you for reading and commenting. Because if you weren't reading or commenting, then I could just do all this in a journal. But as it stands, I journal my deep dark private stuff and I have an agreement with my friend Cindy to burn all my journals when I die (still remember this, Cin?) so basically what I am realizing is that I will have nothing that can be worth a lot of money when I die because all this wisdom and run-on sentences are left on the internet. Uncopyrighted.

Since death is on the mind, let's talk about all the things I wanted to be when I grew up, whereas now that I am grown up, I go to meetings.

1. First female President (I decided this in 5th grade, and I suppose there is still a chance)
2. a prosecuting attorney (what kid thinks of this??)
3. a speech writer for the President
4. a Supreme Court justice
5. a theatre actor
6. a university professor
7. Mary Ann on Gilligan's island
8. a fourth sister on the Brady Bunch

Notable absences from the list:

• Princess
• Ballerina
• Mommy
• Someone who could fly

How about you? (this is my pathetic attempt to get more comments. Really, I want you to write about me).

Do I upgrade?

My little blog is almost 8 years old, roughly the same age I was in my third pair of glasses. So the question of the hour is this: do I make the move to a full-fledged website with tabs and pages and anything else my little fingers can find? Or do I stick with what I do well: blogging infrequently. (Question: where should a "?" have gone? Before the colon or after the period? I never know).

After that elementary level English slip-up, I'll throw in some Latin just to keep this blog on the intellectual high ground. And so, a Pro / Con list.

Pro (for)

1.  Change is good

Con (against, or "with" if you took Spanish instead of Latin)

1. Change for the sake of change is stupid

And I'm at an impasse. So I call on you, dear readers, to help me. (I'm serious here).

What would a good domain name be? All I've come up with is "karintome.com" (10 points for creativity!) A good name should describe the content or be catchy or something. If it's going to be your name, I feel like you need to be Ashton Kutcher. But I could be wrong.

Right now my blog is all over the map, content wise. I think if I moved from a blog, I need to be single focused. What would you want me to focus on?

Help me!

eye candy

I'm the proud owner of a new pair of fire-engine red smart girl glasses that were bought online, manufactured presumably in China, and shipped to me for the rock bottom price of $12.95.

Unfortunately the glasses are useless for driving, reading, and walking in narrow spaces because I was forced to sacrifice my vision on the altar of fashionable eyewear. You see (notice the vision reference), my prescription is stronger than what can be purchased from discount retailers, so I just chose the highest prescription they allowed, crossed my fingers, and gave them my credit card number.

Moral of the story: crossing your fingers is a useless exercise.

pithy, knell, and blight

You, too, can read such words as pithy, knell, and blight if you start following David's blog. He will expand your vocabulary, you can see great photos, and (most importantly) read the ocasional post about yours truly. And we all know that if you scratch my back, I will scratch mine again.

yellow #2

I sharpened all of my nephew's pencils just so I could smell all the wood chippings because I love the start of school that much.

one for one

In my world, hippies are people who don't eat gluten. People who see a mountain and want to climb it. People who prefer cloth diapers and like to eat cliff bars. Hippies carry nalgene bottles and stay away from caffeine and drink green tea.

There's nothing particularly wrong with any of these characteristics. It's just that I can't see myself doing any of them. It wouldn't be me.

So you may be surprised that I'm giving a public service announcement for TOMS shoes. With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for one. Many children in developing countries don't have a single pair of shoes. But apart from the burning fashionista hidden deep within all of us, I didn't understand why a growing up with a barefoot childhood was all that terrible. That is, until this one for one movement alerted me to soil-transmitted diseases and dangerous infections from cuts and wounds that happen every day in these developing countries.

In April 2010, over 250,000 people took part in one day without shoes, to create awareness for this cause. Next April, I intend to participate. And let's be honest, what could be more hippie than to walk around without shoes?

I say all this in part to get the word out. But in all honesty, I'm really writing as a testimony to a powerful communication strategy. 24 hours ago, I didn't know there was a problem. Today, I'm having a hard time getting to sleep because I'm thinking about kids in Argentina who are not allowed to go to school because they have no shoes.

The genius of Blake Mycoskie's leadership of TOMS is simplicity:

The buyer becomes the giver.

When I buy a pair of shoes, then someone else gets a pair of shoes. It's one for one.

Now, he has a creative marketing team, so there are plenty of ways to get involved. I could participate in OneDayWithoutShoes. I could host a shoe awareness party. I could share a YouTube video or follow TOMS on Twitter. All of these actions are simple. Clear. Straightforward. And most importantly, they undergird the main point, namely to buy a pair of TOMS shoes.

A clearly defined mission statement

A vision for the future

And the passion to rally others for the cause

Well done, Blake, well done.

quest

I need to find this Suzi Chin Maggy Boutique Ruched Faux Wrap Dress from Nordstrom at Ross ASAP. Also, someone sign me up for French class so I know what I'm buying.

announcement

I do not like animals. Never have, never will.

• animals smell
• animals are short

This time tomorrow, a dog will live in my house.

Doppelgänger

On more than one occasion, I have been told I look like the following people:

Tina Fey

The Progressive Insurance Girl (not pleased about this one)

Sarah Palin

Tracey, my roommate's sister

2009 in Summary

Read the books.

Watched the movies.

Installed the iPhone app.

Your Dream Guy is Edward

You are a true romantic, and for you, love is a very emotional and passionate thing. You want to be wooed, charmed, and even seduced. You have old fashioned ideas about romance. You don't mind being with a protective guy like Edward, as long as he has your best interests at heart. You like being taken care of completely, even if things get a little intense at times.

Who's Your Dream Guy: Jacob or Edward?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

For david

Here's an extra blog post, just for you.

And you think I don't listen to comments......