Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee...

The photographs from this past weekend are on hiatus. They said they would be back by Wednesday, Thursday at the latest.

Side note: Monocles. How were they ever popular? Thank God for ear pieces; whoever invented the ear piece is a freaking genius. (This side note is for you Ash, and our late night cocktail conversations.)

So today after work I went window-shopping for boxing "stuff". New hobbies are always exciting, especially when they involve stress relief and getting to punch Eric in the face. Who could say no to that? Eric and I ran around town, pricing items and trying on head gear. Head gear is hilarious. Eric looked like a tard, but again...I got to punch him in the head and blame it on trying to see whether or not the head gear actually functioned at the paramount level...fun times.

Okay, after the running all over town I headed to my grandmother's house. She has been experiencing strange heart palpitations and high blood pressure, so I went over there to help her around the house. I went over there thinking nothing of it, that I would just vacuum her house and leave, but as I vacuumed, all I could think about was mortality. I am not sure if you think of yourself as invincible, but sometimes I fall into that trap. I take risks and I do things without thinking about consequences. I think about how other peoples lives are affected by disease or death, and I never stop to think that that could be me. Today, as I bent down to hug my grandmother, my feeling of invincibility fell away and the fraility and finiteness of life came into focus. My grandmother is full of life. She kept up with me in the metro stations in London, and as we climbed the many steps at Montmartre. I think of stories of her as a young mother, traveling alone with three young children through countries such as Turkey, etc. and it makes me realize that at one time she was in my shoes with the days laid out in front of her, the world at her fingertips. She is still vibrant, and she will be a go-getter until her dying day, but I realized today more than ever that that day will indeed come. Our days are numbered, and though we don't want to think about it, today I realized its importance. We need to live every day seeking adventure, we need to go for want we desire and never settle, and we need to find love...love that will be there when we are not feeling invincible. Love that will vacuum our houses when we do not have the strength. Love that is unconditional. My grandmother has led an incredible life, and looking back she has no regrets. She is not afraid of mortality, and I believe that the only cure for the fear of death is life. Going out and living...experiencing...living every day to the fullest. When your life is satisfying, and you know you have experienced all that life has to offer, death should be more of a simple answer to a question, rather than something that is tragically looming overhead.

Sorry for that tangent. It is just something I was thinking about today.

Tonight Ashley and I were supposed to have coffee with Rachel and Tighe, but Rachel was not feeling well so the coffee night had to be rescheduled. Instead, Ashley came with me to buy the boxing gloves I have been eyeing for some time now. The gloves will come in handy, seeing as how no one will have to go bare-knuckle. Later in the evening Eric came over to Ashley's to partake in some late night boxing. I only got to punch Eric in the face twice, but he hit me in the face once and that was enough for me. Somehow my nose did not bruise, for which I am grateful. I told him I was going to go around school showing people my swollen nose and/or black eye and saying, "Eric punched me in the face." I am sure that would look good. Ashley played the role of bell-ringer/trainer, and later she and I got to box, which was enjoyable to watch, I am sure. Next on the to-do list: hang punching bag. Boxing, even though I am not good at it, has been exciting for me to get into. It is a huge stress reliever, it helps coordination, and it raises my heart rate far faster than running, which is awesome. I am not looking to be a "million dollar baby"; I am not even a "dollar baby", but hey...I have fun!

One ironic thing is: I did not get hurt at all as fists were flying at my head tonight, and typically making full contact. I did, however, get hurt as I was walking up the stairs to my apartment, coming in for the night. I was thinking about someone and before I knew what hit me I was laying kind of sprawled out on the stairs. My cell phone had fallen thru the crack, down to the first floor...the battery lying in the grass, and everything that had been in my hands was spread all over the place. My hands should be hurting and sore, but instead my shin is bruised. Figure this one out.