Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: April 2012

A photo of me:


1) Candle scents this month:
Lilac Blossoms. Clean Cotton. Tulips. Fresh Mint. Blueberry Scone. Lavender Vanilla. Midnight Jasmine. Garden Hideaway. Vanilla Cupcake. Meadow Showers. Coastal Waters. Drift Away. Cottage Breeze. Beach Wood. Strawberry Buttercream. Blueberry Scone. Egyptian Cotton.

2) What I am reading this month:
Making progress with Love in the Time of Cholera. Some of it is...disconcerting? The actions of one of the characters, that is. The emotional conflicts, though, are completely fascinating.

3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
"Real Live Woman," by Trisha Yearwood. "Awful Beautiful Life," by Darryl Worley. "She's Got a Way," by Billy Joe.

4) Movies I saw:
The Ten Commandments - I try to watch this every year, even though it's super long. because it's a classic and I remember begging to stay up to watch it as a child. The first time I watched it as an adult, I realized there were two hours of this movie I had never seen before, because I had never managed to stay awake for it, despite the pleading.

5) Favorite tv moments of the month:
"The Stable Boy," Once Upon a Time - Possibly one of my favorite episodes of this show so far, it explains *so* much.
"Sweet Baby," Scandal - Very few shows suck me in, right out of the gate, like this one did. I felt like I already knew the characters.
Frozen Planet on The Discovery Channel - Pure amazement.
"A Short Story About Love," Fringe - I wanted to stand up and cheer. That's how happy this episode made me.
"Chapter Thirteen," The Firm - This has been an intense show all along, but it has really kicked up a notch. To the point that I can't wait to see what happens next, but I can't watch it right before sleeping due to the adrenaline rush.
"Support System," Grey's Anatomy - Sandra Oh did some amazingly believable acting as Cristina in this episode.
"Enemy of the State," Scandal - Whoa. Just...whoa. This show is getting *really* good. The quick dialogue and the twists and turns are fabulous.
"The Dream Team," The Good Wife - What a season finale cliffhanger!! What on earth is on the other side of that door?!

6) Something yummy I made:
I tried my hand at cole slaw for the first time. I was actually kind of impressed at how easy it was! I'm a tough sell when it comes to cole slaw because I hate when it's overdressed.

7) Restaurants where I ate:
Miller's Ale House. Golden Corral.

8) Five things I am loving this month:
1. Baseball. Back on my tv. Hello, old friend.
2. Easter lilies! They are such cheerful flowers. They make me smile.
3. An unexpected cool snap. A little over a week of wonderfully comfortable weather!
4. The subtle change in color we used for my last set of highlights. It's a little warmer that what we've been doing for a while now. So much hair change lately!
5. Finally some sunlight in the morning while I get ready for the day. It makes such a difference in my general outlook.

9) A goal I had for this month:
At the end of March, I made a pact with Alison and Heather that we would make sure we spoke on the phone at least once a month, starting in April. Lives get busy, schedules get complicated, technology gives us multiple ways to stay in touch when our free minutes don't match up. But sometimes you just need to talk to a real voice. Mission accomplished.

10) This month I looked forward to:
Holy Week. Those four services -- Palm Sunday. Maundy Thursday. Good Friday Tenebrae. Easter Sunrise. -- move me so deeply. There is so much introspection, so many thoughts. They run the gamut of emotion. They remind me why I hold tightly to my faith.


11) Something I want to be thankful for this month:
The people who love me and put up with me even when I am a whiny brat about being tired and needing some time off. Lots of us work hard. We're all tired. The simple fact that they tolerate all my whining and keep cheering me on until my next scheduled day off  is a testament to their awesomeness.

12) A photo I took this month:
I had to pick three favorites this month. I just couldn't decide!