Project 365: Day 35

Project 365: Day 35, originally uploaded by otherjackson5.

I know. You think this is just a boring post showing a photo of my shoes.

But seriously, if you knew how much these shoes liked to party, you’d understand why I’m sharing this shot.

My shoes know how to party. They have these amazing adventures all over the city. It’s just that I’m not usually in them when they go out.

I know it sounds questionable. But I swear these shoes go out on the town without me. When I’m not looking. And they snicker and judge me while I’m stuck at home. Then, they set themselves out like this. So innocent.

You think that just because you’re a Mary Jane style and every little girl cartoon character seems to wear you so sweetly that you can get away with it?

I think not. I’m on to you and your late-night antics.

I’m watching you. Yeah, you.

By the way, do your favorite shoes stab you in the back, too? Leave your toes exposed with nowhere to goes?

No? Are you sure? I mean, realllllly sure?

thoughts in my head, as seen through the window

Everyone has a story to tell.

I’ve figured this out over the past few years. If you talk to someone long enough, get close enough to someone, oftentimes you’ll get the real story. Of course, there are those people whose stories are never really their own, just an exaggeration. A wish. A craving of what could be but is not. These, too, are good stories. Just not necessarily true stories.

As somewhat of a storyteller in my real-world job, I crave to listen to people’s stories and then share them with others. I scour the Web to read other people’s stories. I make up lists of stories I want to tell. My mind is constantly thinking about other people’s stories and fresh ways to share those tales.

While scouring said Web, I’ve fallen in love with Twitter, a place where I get smatterings of people’s stories. Like I’m standing on my tiptoes, trying to peek inside a frosty or dirty window. I can’t see much. But I see something. What are they doing in there? What did she say? What was his reaction? Did the kids hear that? Why is the dog licking the toilet? How old is that paint job? What is that smell? Why are they listening to talk radio while grandma watches Sweatin’ With the Oldies in the corner of the room? What’s for dinner?

You know. That kinda stuff.

You don’t think like I do, do you? You don’t wonder about people and places and scents and sites and sights and scratches on hands and how they got there.

I do.

So when I hear someone’s story, I want more. And oftentimes, sadly, I carry others’ stories with me as if they were my own.

That’s why some of you who know me have noticed that if someone else’s baby is hurting, my heart hurts. If someone’s mom is dying, a little piece of me is dying, too.

Because inside, their hurts are my hurts.

Maybe I would’ve been a good actor. I feel what others are feeling. I hold their stories in my head and the film flickers. Sometimes ALL NIGHT LONG.

I need to keep a journal next to the bed.

I keep saying I’m going to do that.

it’s all about living at this point, y’all

It’s nothing new to hear someone say they’re trying to get in better shape beginning in January. And for that, I’m almost hesitant to even put it out there that I’m trying to focus a little more on me and my health right now. Seems so … predictable.

But this has nothing to do with New Year’s resolutions. Nothing to do with fitting into a bathing suit.

This has everything to do with being ALIVE when my kids graduate high school.

My last health screening was not great. It wasn’t even good.

Unfortunately for me, Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart problems run in my family. On both sides. Yay! What odds are those! Not good ones.

I’ve always eaten bad, bad stuff. Used to have Coke IN MY BOTTLE as a kid. So it’s no surprise that I’m addicted to Coke now. Also ate tons of fast food growing up. And SURPRISE! I still crave it. Every day.

Long John Silvers? I WUV YOU.

So to get the bad news right there in black and white has been a wake-up call.

I’m in pre-diabetic hell, y’all. And it’s not looking good from here on out if I don’t do something drastic.

I’ve probably said it before, but I’ll say it again. It’s time to get off my ever-expanding butt.

That’s exactly why I signed up to do what I’ve dubbed the “crazy walk.” If you want to help me raise funds for this nutso adventure, please click here. Every single dollar raised will help a woman battle cancer. It’s a great cause.

It’s my motivation to get moving. To make a change. So I’m here. Healthy. Alive.

I’ve also subscribed to a GREAT magazine, Eating Well. Anyone trying to eat better and learn healthy habits should check out their site and start grabbing it either at the store or having it mailed. It’s great!

I also have these recent magazines to kick-start things:

And this one:

And this one, too:

Wish me luck. I’m going to need it. I’m hoping to lose at least 15 pounds. Possibly 20.

Here’s to walking and eating my way to better health-screening numbers!

who do you look like?

Facebook is all a flutter with people posting shots of celebrities they’ve been told they look like.

Me? Well, I fail to see the resemblance in any of the people I’ve been told I look like. In fact, I’m embarrassed to admit most (all) of them.

But here’s a rundown of a few of my so-called lookalikes.

You decide.

Me? I think I look like … me. And that’s it.

I wish I could say I was a twin of, say, Heidi Klum, or some tall, leggy blonde.

But … I’m just me.

For a few laughs …

Drumroll, please.

In high school, people told me I looked like Jon Bon Jovi.

Sadly, I did. A lot. I’ll post photos when my scanner and computer are talking to one another again.

I also was told I looked like Glenn Close. Which never floated my boat since I was, what, 16? And she was, like, uh, 100??!!

Also Jennifer Jason Leigh. And Martha Plimpton. And Jodie Foster.

Uh, no.

Then there’s my nutso sister who swears, still to this day, that I look like Darryl Hannah.

I wish.

I think I might look like her in at least one photos on this page, though.

And then, the funniest of all.

Reese Witherspoon.

For some odd reason, I have gotten this one several times over the past few years. Which makes me roll my eyes and laugh hysterically.

Cause really. Seriously. She’s cute. She’s bubbly.

I’m not cute or bubbly.

But thanks to all my blind, crazy friends.

And by the way, that last one? That’s me. The real me.

Drop me a comment. Do you think I look like Jon? Jodie? Daryl?

And who have you been told YOU look like?

I’d love to hear!

Project 365: Day 25

Project 365: Day 25, originally uploaded by otherjackson5.

Creating memories … on paper.

Middle Man practices the art of sketching.