something new.

sometimes i forget about the positive things that are happening so in an effort to recognize the things that i like on a day-to-day basis (pema calls this cheerfulness practice), i want to share some of the things that i now love about casa de tres.  

to fully be able to appreciate this shift, you would have to know how much i hated -- and i do mean hated -- this house, for so long. i missed my cute little forest hills house, with the charming crystal door knobs and tiny little black and white 

bathroom floor tiles. then i came to this house - blah and more blah. and for some reason, for years and years, we just lived here. didn't paint a wall. didn't hang a picture. didn't plant a flower.
  

but at some point, the house won us over, we decided to stay, 

 and i got busy ignoring all the rules and making this house 

a place that i love. 

and this kitchen wall, though not yet complete, is one of my favorite things. the wall is truly the color of a tropical flower, and who wouldn't smile at that? 

the board is everything i love - a little bit industrial, 

a little bit fun and full of pictures that make me happy. and of course, the latest addition, our plastic gold pegasus, 

acquired at the deep ellum arts festival this year. 

 

she can lick her own elbow.

vintage effect + helvetica type makes things pretty.

a sad day at casa de tres.

The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.

— Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart   

my sweet Bruce.  

my sweet grey, who, when he looked down that long, long nose at you, strangely resembled barbra streisand.

he was my favorite.  and he will be missed, but remembered with a smile.

easier said than done.

p.s.  if you or anyone you know is looking for an absolute lovebug of a dog, greyhounds make the best companions.  they require little more than a spot on the couch, a walk now and then and all the love you have to give.  they're great family dogs, get along with just about everyone (maybe not the best friend of cats), require relatively little exercise and do great, even in apartments.
please visit Greyhounds Unlimited to learn more about the wonderful world of greys.
http://greyhoundsunlimited.org/

i don't have to grow up because i'm gay.

first let me say that i just can't be bothered to blog these days because i am completely distracted by my new love, pinterest. i actually can't be bothered to do many things these days because of my new love.

i will always, however, find time to celebrate and that is just what we did last weekend for st. paddy's day. it has become a big to-do with the parking of the cars, the food prep, the trashcan punch, the t-shirt design . . . it goes on and on. and i can't say that i'm not slightly embarrassed to be 32 years old and still designing Team Amiel koozies that say "i'm fucking drunk" and boozin' it up on the street at     7 a.m. while many of my friends are at home with the kiddos, going to soccer practice or the zoo, i'm getting sloppy. my honest thought, though, is that it has something to do with having kids. i feel like that's the tipping point and since, uh, i don't get to have them (or at least not very easily), i haven't been required to really grow up. yep that's right - i just excused my behavior and used being gay as an excuse. i'm pretty good at rationalizing my ridiculousness.

anyhow, we had some good times. here's the proof:

in the next picture, reid's hand is over hallie's mouth.

Team Amiel

nothing wrong with sipping champagne from the bottle

then there was the after party at the Dojo with Papa Large:

eric was actually doing back-flips, beer in hand. 

Team Amiel MVP nomination.

drunksies.

a little flip cup, played incorrectly.

a little front yard sittin'.

pétanque in the front yard: my favorite part of the day.

sometimes music is just the thing.

in case you were wondering:

autopsies are gross.  they are not cool.  they are not something you want to go home and talk about.  they are nothing to brag about.  they are not for making jokes.  they are not sad, they are just gloomy.  and smelly.

so, i guess that answers that about medical school.  i'll probably still take the MCAT just for kicks (and to prove to myself that i can do it) but i'm pretty sure i don't ever again in my life want to see (or hear) what i saw (and heard) yesterday.