Random Oddities

1. With northern America dealing with the Polar Vortex Mega Winterpocalypse Snowmageddon KillStorm 2014, endless amount of snow and numbing cold I'm so happy I call Florida home. The summers may be brutal and the heat may get monotonous, but there's something indescribably soothing about the sun warming your shoulders.

2. I miss the days of free yoga classes at the FSU's gym. Yoga in my living room just doesn't feel the same.

3. Some days you're the windshield, some days your the bug...and some days, you're just a small gust of wind away from breaking down. During those days, a nap is non-negotiable.

4. The statement "I like to keep my options open" relates to me on so many levels. Classic characteristic of an ENFP. (I suggest taking a Myers Briggs personality test. It'll provide some understanding to why you do the things you do.)

5. I've fallen in love with James Vincent McMorrow's "We Don't Eat" all over again. I consider it a good, "Relax, and let your worries flow downstream" kind of songs.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend! 

Sincerely,

Cybill

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Dick Wolf is a Boss

For all of you who know addictive television, I'm sure you've found yourself parked on your couch, watching episode after episode of Law & Order, or my personal preference, Law & Order: SVU. The mastermind behind those addictive television shows is a gentleman by the name of Dick Wolf and he has done it once again with Chicago PD!

NBC premiered their new show, (my must-watch, can't-miss) Chicago PD in January. Since its pilot episode (which caused me to slap my hand over my mouth as I gasped and almost caused me to spill my tea) it hasn't lifted its foot off the gas...not even a little bit. 

For those of you who haven't watched it, I'll stir clear of any spoilers, but tell you now, even if I slipped, you probably won't see it coming. Right off the bat, the audience is lifted by their heels and shaken upside, leaving you hanging for the perfectly timed commercial breaks. Luckily, you can probably watch the first five episodes on demand and skip all the commercials. (I suggest keeping one or two of them in there, as you might need a breather.) Regardless, there is no shortage of action, suspense, gun fire and the nitty-gritty story lines that keep you wanting more.

The story lines of each character provide a depth that intrigues you on its own. It not only sets a concrete foundation for the show — making you feel as if you've stepped into a well established series — but it ignites the ever quiet and ever present human aspect, there is always more than one side to every story.

The depth of the character break downs probably comes as no surprise to those who have watched another of Wolf's work, Chicago Fire. Leading man, Sergeant Hank Voight, played by Jason Beghe, appeared in a couple of episodes of Chicago Fire, allowing for optimum crossovers between the shows. 

Personally, one of my favorite aspects is knowing the wait for another awesome episode produced by Wolf is just 24 hours, compared to a week (or 23 hours if you want to throw Law & Order: SVU into the mix). However, it'll be a little different this go around. With the 2014 Winter Olympics, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD have paused, but on the bright side...it just means you have three weeks to catch up. And besides, people always say it's not good to watch that much television.

I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think!

Sincerely, 

Cybill

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In A Past Life

Do you believe in past lives and reincarnation? When I first learned about reincarnation in school, it fascinated me. It's like a second chance, but on a bigger scale. A reset button on life. You've reset and erased. You're back at the starting gate, but you don't know the course of the track. You go on anyways.

Growing up Catholic, I was taught that reincarnation isn't real. It isn't a thing. It's an idea, but it's not ours. However, as the years have come and gone, I can't help but wonder if it's true, even the smallest bit. Perhaps it's not page-by-page from Buddhist teaching, but piece-by-piece.

In the Zac Brown Band's song "Colder Weather," he sings, "you got a gypsy soul to blame and you were born for leaving." It's always been one of my favorite lines and I had jotted it down on a post-it note while working in NYC. (That post-it note hung on the wall next to pictures I ripped out of an STA Travel catalog.) The lines' deep resonation has me thinking I must have been a gypsy in a former life. I must have been a vagabond. I must have always had this need to explore and wander. Whether or not it's true, I won't know until after I die, but until then, I'll go on anyways.

Sincerely, 

Cybill

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Que Sera Sera

There is something to be said about going away and coming back home. It's probably why millions of people do it every day and the novelty will never wear off. There's the renewed appreciation for the familiar. They way your bed fits, just right. The fine balance of your pillows, not too soft, not to sturdy. The comforting smell, that not matter how old you are or where life takes you, the smallest hint of it and you know, home. 

There's also the small and unexplainable way your spirit just comes back rejuvenated. Indescribable, but undeniable. A part of you longs for the foreign adventure, but it's hard to fulling ignore the ease of breathing at home. The way the familiar surroundings break down the stiffness built in your spine. The knowing, where things are and where they belong, including yourself.

In the realm of careers, I'm still trying to find where I belong. Today, I welcomed the week with another Skype interview. It was the same company I spoke with a few weeks ago, but this time around, I didn't wear pajama pants, I wore gym shorts. Am I confident about it? Yes...and no. I'm confident in my answers and in myself, but I'm not confident in their feelings about me. Does that make sense? Ultimately, they weren't easy to read, but hakuna matata, right? I made it to another round. If this were American Idol, I'd have better chances at some air time. Oh well, I'll hope for the best and in regard to the rest, que sera sera, whatever will be, will be... (You have to love that rejuvenated kefi spirit!)


Sincerely,

Cybill

Live From Hilton Head

Hey everyone! Sorry I've been MIA for a bit...or a week. Don't worry, I'm still here. I'm still around. Except, I'm just not home.

In the previous post, I mentioned plans to visit Hilton Head Island. Well, I'm here, but my extended family isn't here...any longer/yet. Okay, so that statement is probably a little confusing. Let me explain.

When we first got here, my cousin and her family along with some of our family friends from west Florida joined us. It was fun. They seemed to enjoy my "They say college helps you land a job, look what happened to me," joke. My cousin's daughter, Azalea, also expressed her feelings about going to college to be a nurse. Long story short, she doesn't want to be a nurse, but her parents are emphasizing the job security. (I probably serve as an example of what not to do.) I'll feel bad if she ends up studying to be a nurse and her heart's not it in. That's never fun.

Now the "yet" part of that statement. Well, while my family from Florida left the other day, there is possibility of some of my family from New Jersey driving down to join us for the rest of the week. It's silly, but certain members of my family from west Florida and New Jersey don't get along with one another. I've asked my Dad why and when he explained, I asked, "Are you serious? That's the reason they don't get along?" It's really all silly and a good bit of it is because of my uncle from New Jersey. I won't get into the details, but after a first-hand account of his abrasive judgement from the most ridiculous of reasons, I totally get it. And part of me hopes they decide not to drive down.

However, I won't focus on that! I'll focus on the salty sea a few yards from my door. Who doesn't love that? I'll focus on the chill that greets my cheeks when I step outside. I'll focus on having the beach to myself. I'll focus on getting to read my books in a different location.

Don't cue your own level of self-worth from other people's perception, opinions, views and labels.

Sincerely,

Cybill

Kefi Begets Kefi

Remember how I was all about the Kefi at the start of 2014? I was Kefi's biggest cheerleader. I defended the spirit like it was my good name. Well, we're about 22 days into 2014 and I'm going to need some hard core Kefi spirit next week.

For my Dad's birthday, my Mom has planned for us to spend some time on Hilton Head Island. She also invited a few family members to join us. That's cool. I'm totally okay and on board with this idea. Except, I'm not really totally okay and on board with this idea. I also don't think it'll be that cool. Why? Let me explain.

Chances are, someone will ask me about my life, whether it's my relationship status (or lack thereof), my job (or lack thereof) or my plan for my future (which they would probably conclude is an awful idea). I know it won't be that bad. I mean, they're family. They'll drive you nuts (because they're kind of nuts) but they'll love and support you no matter what. Except they won't, not 100% anyways. Out loud and in front of you, they'll put on a good face, but they'll fail. A small jab will slip. A small jab always slips.

Just the other day my Dad was on the phone talking about me and my brother, the engineer. After discussing our accomplishments, the voice on the phone (that's all I'm going to do to acknowledge her) replied, "Engineering. That's nice. That's good." Not a word of praise for my accomplishments. Not even a nod of acknowledgment. Thanks, voice on the phone, you're all too sweet. I might as well be Isobel Crawley and the world (especially the voice on the phone) the Dowager Countess.

It's like this a lot of the time, especially with my brother being a hot shot in Chicago. But I've taken the criticism with its grain of salt. You can't really hate people who only do things because they have to do them. They work because they need to make money to provide for themselves. They don't work because they actually enjoy what they're doing. You know, they're the type of people who do things to get somewhere else or to get something else. They can't be happy just because. It's a shame, really.

It is with this mindset (and a constant stream of self praise) that I'm going to take on any encounter. I'm going to use this as a means of power, because, heck, I'm pretty awesome. I may have to fake it a bit, but it's comes with the territory. One thing for sure, I'm not going to let their poor opinions of me get to me. I'm not going to let their labels of failure play any role in my life. I'm not going to let them defeat me, because frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. (Okay, so may be I give a little damn, but just you wait.) Besides, it's in poor taste to be a defeatist, just ask the Dowager Countess.

I should probably refer back to this pep talk-esque-blog post when the going gets rough. Perhaps, I should also look into making a daily affirmation. This girl does it the right way and she's definitely a woman of Kefi.

Sincerely,

Cybill

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Too Much

"You will always be too much for someone: too big, too loud, too soft, too edgy. 

If you round out your edges, you lose your edge."

Danielle LaPorete, The Positivity of Pride

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