“Always prudence, duty and honor. Where is your heart?” A beautiful quote from Austen’s Sense and Sensibility conveys a character’s distress of being bound by her silence and social class. Obviously times have changed where we are no longer defined by what the status of a woman should be, but are the lines really that blurred? We are still silenced, but it’s now just frowned upon or mistaken as submissiveness. We are not entirely devoid of strong, boisterous women among our society my mind is lead to those who are meek on the outside shouting their indignation from the inside. This isn’t a women’s empowerment blog or a “woe is me” type of message I am simply expressing my opinion on this specific quote I love so much. I was talking with a friend recently on the different duties men and women play in relationships and I was enlightened on the fact that what she was saying is so true. Men are programmed to fix things, make it better in simple easy steps. A black and white outcome. Must be right or wrong. Women on the other hand take time, exhaust all their efforts before a problem is fixed. We are also much stronger, not in the physical sense, but emotionally we are programmed to handle much strife with honor and duty. Our men are there to be the reason and truth in the relationship, where we bring forth compassion and heart. You can not have one with out the other. Men give us the chance to be passionate, emotional, and completely unrealistic at times. Give us a voice. After all of this, show us ardent romance. Be creative, ingenuity not money is the pathway to our heart. Make us feel wanted, accepted, and most of all pursued. Passion should never die in a relationship. Of course these insipid thoughts are coming from a feminist romantic, so I could be wrong. At any rate this is what makes my heart beat faster…romance.

AJ

Caution: This blog contains events that may sadden any music enthusiast, so proceed with caution. As of Friday morning the news broke out that there will be no Dfest this year, due to the economic downfall. I find this to be a very counterproductive move because this music festival helps support local businesses and musicians, so why throw in the towel? Obviously this is sheerly my opinion, but I feel like there is more to this decision that the organizers don’t want to admit. For whatever reason I am still disappointed that I won’t be spending a sultry July weekend walking the streets of the Blue Dome listening to eclectic musicians. It’s time to wave goodbye it’s been a nice eight-year stretch, but everything must come to an end.

After I got over my sulking the hubs and I decided to venture out to the Cherry Street Market Saturday morning. I loved the culture of it all with the local vendors hocking their homegrown/homemade merchandise, I loved it! We walked up and down the street tasting samples and looking at all the goodies. The hubs got me a bundle of wildflowers and we walked away with the best salsa I’ve ever had along with tasty spinach feta bread. Yum! There will be many Saturdays at the Market.

I almost forgot to report back with my experience at the Blue Dome Arts Fest. Well it certainly met my expectations and will be going again next year. There were so many avant-garde artists with fun and fresh art work that I was surprisingly impressed. Oh I can’t forget to mention the atmosphere! It was so low-key and mellow that it had that hippie vibe about it, so all in all it was an eventful time. I’m enjoying my time, so I’m sure there will be many fun nights to come. Until then enjoy the beautiful Sunday.

AJ

I kept my promise, I am writing from my spacious newly painted living room with my girl Xena snoring sweetly in the background. Unpacked, settled in, and finally finding time to write. My heart is full at the moment and it’s only fair that I would be listening to Paramore’s “My Heart” as I’m writing this first blog in my new space. My feelings on this change have two sides; one side is uncontrollably happy starting a brand new stage where I can be free, but of course the second side is cheapening the happiness. I am in a place where I can snag all the people I know and place them in one hand, not a good thing when you are prone to the “blues” as I am. Here comes a very high school moment, but I’m scared of making new friends. How can I find friends like mine back home that put up with my erratic, crazy moments of insanity that no one else will understand or find humor in. That is why I’m devising a sort of mission to branch out and experience Tulsa called ‘Save My Sanity’ where I will go to the perfect places in town reporting back my venture to my beautiful blogmates. I’m thinking my first mission will be to pay respect to the arts with the Brady Arts Festival, the Blue Dome Arts Festival, and Mayfest. Wait in anticipation because you wont want to miss my life experience. Peace to you my wondrous readers and be blessed this weekend.

AJ

*deep breath* AHHH, ok now I can begin. How can you explain how you feel after the moment you thought would never come…came? I feel like sometimes I’m too old for these sentimental flash backs or that maybe my dreaminess should cease. I can’t figure out why I’m delaying the packing process so long and it’s not just because the art of packing is so DREADFUL!! Everytime I have ever packed up and left a place I feel this way, you could say I’m a compulsive sentimentalist. The first time leaving the parents going out to make my mark on the world…delayed. Staggering around the small apartment at UMCH in the Quah searching for mental photographs…delayed. Looking around our classy two bedroom, the roomie and I hugging it out over load music with sadness on our faces…delayed. So you see I’m at that point once again. UGH, I can’t seem to snap out of this realm of thinking. While packing I came across some letters, sample writings and some other stuff from the good ‘ol days I enjoy reminiscing. Since packing is obviously an issue for me I am recruiting help! So the girls and I are having a packing party, so lets hope this kicks up my mood. The next time I write let’s hope its from my fully unpacked living room in Tulsa, but one can’t be too sure. Until then live and love.

AJ

First day of Spring and it’s snowing! Usually a natural beauty, but not welcome here when my heart is anticipating warmth. With the weather dreary the husband and I have stuck our claim on our designated sides of the bed and agreed to have a marathon of classic movies. There isn’t anything better than a relaxing weekend of no responsibility, even though I should be packing…I’m not.

The girls and I had our usual “Ladies Poker Night” where of course I didn’t win, but slowly getting better. Ah, it was a nice little trip down memory lane with playlists that consisted of Blindside, Emery, Anberlin and of course Subseven. It was nice to let everything stop for a second and fall back into being 18 again front row at a concert screaming out the lyrics. Oh life! I had me a little breakdown with all this change ahead, but no matter how much fear and hesitation I have about it all I still feel it’s the right decision. So to our friends, don’t be tearful or upset about us leaving because you know you will be missed. It will make visiting home that much sweeter!! Chin up my dear friends.

AJ

Originally a music blog, but now a personal tribute. Didn’t have much to comment on musicwise, but I’m sure that will all change since we are approaching the “festival season” until then though you will just have to endure my random thoughts. New things are taking up space in my life and will soon prove themselves to me, or so I hope. Ugh in the middle of packing up the apartment and ready to move on down to T-town (that’s Tulsa for you non-Oklahomans). Oh and forgive the rhyme completely unintentional. So I’m trying to hold in my excitement and act unaffected about it all, but honestly I can’t wait to break away from my comfort zone. I’m needing an intense change right now and I don’t mean a “chop off all your hair and dye it purple” type of change, so naturally moving came to mind. Now the bigger challenge will be how in the world I can find a job in 1 month. So any ideas of jobs in the Tulsa, OK area that would want to hire a poetic dreamer? Leave comments with your answers I much appreciate it!

The sister and I saw the handsome John Mayer in concert last weekend and of course he was looking snazzy in his leather as usual. The more interesting entertainment though was Mr Michael Franti and the Spearhead band, they took my like for them to LOVE! Go to the Picture/Concert page and you can see why. Alright my blogy readers time to get back to it, but leave me some inspiration so that I might press on!

AJ