currently

Watching: Parenthood (best show on TV?  probably.) It's so heartfelt and relate-able.  We won't talk about how often I cry when I watch it because you would call the police.  Going into the current season I didn't think this show could make me cry MORE than it had in the past and THEN the writers gave us the worst/best storyline ever.  Kristina has breast cancer and wow.  The actress who plays Kristina (Monica Potter) has played this storyline effortlessly and beautifully from diagnosis to her near death infection at CHRISTMAS.  Yeah.  Ask me how I did through that episode.  There are 2 scenes from this show and this storyline I would like to share with you.  And please if you aren't watching this show, consider it.  You can watch it from the beginning on Netflix and Hulu Plus.


In this scene Adam (Kristina's husband) and their daughter Haddie talk straight talk about her mom's diagnosis.  Just watch.

           During the Christmas episode Kristina is hospitalized with a possibly deadly infection as a result of her chemotherapy treatments.  She tells Adam that if the worst happens she has left her 3 kids a video message.  Worried about Kristina, Adam watches it.  "I'm so lucky I got to be your mom" she says among other beautiful tear-jerking moments.  I'm seriously tearing up just describing this scene.  P.S. She has recovered for now

Listening to: Lana Del Rey.  I know I've talked about her before but I got a record player for Christmas and hers (among MANY others) was one of the vinyls I got.  And I'm re-obsessed all over again.  Mellow, haunting, awesome.  Also Bat For Lashes.  I've talked about her before too but check her out if you haven't already.  What's A Girl To Do, Daniel, Laura, and The Haunted Man are a few of my favorites.

Thinking About: a couple of quotes from the book "A Fault In Our Stars".  It's amazing book that I also have already talked about but I highly recommend it.  *note: read with a box or 5 of Kleenex.  The writing in it is just so eloquent and poignant.  Every thing every character said I was just nodding and like "yes!  I've felt that way!" but it's said way better in the book than I could ever word it.  Some of my favorite quotes are "I fell asleep the way you fall in love; slowly, then all at once" (EXACTLY how it is RIGHT??)  and this one which is so so true.

Another quote I recently heard "Your personality is not set in stone.  You may think a morning coffee is the most enjoyable thing in the world, but it's really just a habit. Thirty days without it, and you would be fine.  You think you have a soul mate, but in fact you could have had any number of spouses.  You would have evolved differently, but been just as happy.  You can change what you want about yourself at any time.  You see yourself as someone who can't write or play an instrument, who gives into temptation or makes bad decisions, but that's really not you.  It's not ingrained.  It's not your personality.  Your personality is something else, something deeper than just preferences, and these details on the surface, you can change anytime you like.  If it is useful to do so, you must abandon your identity and start again.  Sometimes, it's the only way.  Set fire to your old self.  It's not needed here.  It's too busy shopping, gossiping about others, and watching days go by and asking why you haven't gotten as far as you'd like.  This old self will die and be forgotten by all but family, and replaced by someone who makes a difference."  Gives you a lot to think about right?  I thought it was appropriate with the New Year and all.  

Excited about: the NFL playoffs.  Holy shakes of anticipation.  I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED.  I keep talking about it and my dear friends/roommates are so nice about it.  They let me freak out and talk about "seeds" and "AFC/NFC" and even if they think I'm ridiculous, they indulge me.  I made myself a play offs bracket and when I woke up this morning my roommate Cristal had transferred it onto our whiteboard.

I could cry I'm so proud.

Grateful: that I'm finally over what will only be referred to as "the sickness".  Fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, stuffiness, ETC.  Lasted most of last week and through New Years.  Hopefully you and your family avoid this plague.

*note: yes.  I took NyQuil.  We won't talk about it.

--------------------------------------------------------------

So how about you?  What are you up to currently?  I'd love to hear.  Do your own and link it in the comments so we can all go check it out.

Happy New Year!!!

xoxo

Ness

P.S. I made my list of New Year Resolutions:

2013 is gonna be the year of keepin it real.