All of the Tattoos

When people see that I have a tattoo on my foot, they stare at it awkwardly and try to read it before simply asking me what it says.

This was right after I got it. Swollen foot!

I tell them it says 'Go placidly amid the noise and haste'---and then I get another awkward stare. It's very rare that someone recognizes that its the first line of the Poem "Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann.

For whatever reason, people don't expect me to have a tattoo. So then they are really surprised when I tell them that that's my second tattoo, and my first tattoo is on my right ribcage, and it happens to be the last stanza of that poem:

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Also right after I got this tattoo (obviously.) Don't mind that weird white thing. It's just where I connect my insulin pump.

What can I say? It's a great poem, and embodies everything I believe and strive for. (See the whole poem at the end of this post.)

So, as they say, tattoos are addicting. (Apparently not for Brett Mayo though. He says he's done with tattoos. Although he did say something about a Charlie Chaplin tattoo and a Johnny Cash tattoo.....when he's 50. He's a silly man. But I love him.) Anyway, I've already planned out my next tattoo.

It's going to be something like this:

 It will be all black, though, and the umbrella will look more umbrella-y. Placement is undecided, but since I have so many words already, I figured I needed a picture. And it has taken me SO long to finally decide on this. But I think it fits me perfectly!

And since I am trying hard to be a Dave Ramsey/Financial Peace RAWK STAR (check out my other blog!) I am saving for it, and I thought my birthday would be the perfect time to go in for tattoo number 3. It's still 3 months away (which is FOREVER in Rachel time) but it will give me time to put away money from each paycheck. :)

Plus, if you know me, you know i LOVE birthdays (ESPECIALLY mine!) and this will be kind of an awesome birthday gift to myself, and a great way to remember the transition from my "mid-twenties" to my "late-twenties"....(oh lawd. my late twenties....i'm ok with it...i'm ok with it...i'm ok with it...)

I'M EXCITED!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to check out the most amazing poem ever below. :)

Desiderata
Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.



Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.


Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.




Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Tuesday Morning

I'm not a numbers person. (Ask Brett. If I need a percentage, I'll just text him. He can do it faster in his head than I can with a calculator.)

I'm a words person. I like to read and write. I think poetry is interesting (usually). I love to see creative ways people put words together.

This morning, I was listening to a traffic report, (I'm also a huge nerd, and will listen to every traffic and weather report I come across on my way to work), and the person giving the report said "I've got your traffic report for Tuesday Morning...."

And I don't know what it was, but those two words together, "Tuesday Morning", just struck me as beautiful. 

I know. It's weird.

Does that ever happen to any other of you "word people"? Common ordinary phrases or words that you have heard for years just resonate with you on a random Tuesday morning?

It might have been a combination senses. The smell of coffee, the sunlight through my open sunroof.....sometimes the word "morning" is associated with a new beginning, or a sign of hope, too. Maybe that played a part. (Usually I just associate the word "morning" with the torture of trying to drag myself out of bed.)

Anyway, being a words person, I felt I should write about my experience. :)

I hope you all are having a wonderful Tuesday morning. (Or afternoon...or night...whenever you are reading this...)

Thanks for reading!

So, I kind of like dancing.

Ok, "kind of" is an understatement. A severe understatement. I flipping love dancing. I always have. And I always dance wherever I go.

O'Charleys for dinner and a cotton candy martini? I'm at the bar like

Browsing through Barnes and Noble to grab the latest cheesy novel that everyone hates, but is still reading anyway? I'm all like

Even at work, sitting in my cube, I've got my headphones on all like

I frickin' love to dance, and if you've known me for more than 2 seconds, you know that.

I started out as a tiny ballerina, and through the years have taken acrobatics, gymnastics, hip hop, jazz, and tap.

I have even done some interpretive dancing! (It doesn't matter that it was to the Queen's Greatest Hits CD.... in my apartment.... in college... with my roommates.)

Anyway, the latest object of my dancing affection (and has been, for a few years now) is swing dancing (and all forms of it!)

And, I just wanted to share my excitement about this I Charleston video you have seen me post about on Facebook for the past couple of weeks.

There is this website called I Charleston The World, and it is basically a challenge for all scenes in all cities to make a video of you doing the Charleston in front of famous places.

There have been several cities all over the world to post videos, and now, it's Nashville's turn. With the help of the incredibly talented Andrew Rozario (video/creative genius), Jon Tigert (choreographer/creative genius), and the cast of super talented dancers, we are going to have the BEST video. That's right. THE BEST.

We have filmed at all the classic landmarks, and even some places you wouldn't really expect. (I'm going to let you wait until the video comes out for all of the fun surprises!)

Here are a few pictures! (First Photo by Meg McNaughton, others by Andrew Rozario)

So, get excited people. Because this is going to be awesome! This has to be the most fun thing I've ever been a part of ever!! (Besides my relationship with Brett, of course; love you, honey!) :)

Also, if you happen to be downtown, and catch us dancing/filming...JUMP IN THERE WITH US! The whole point is to get more people dancing. Because dancing is awesome, and everyone could use a little extra awesome in their lives! :)

Anyway, here are some pictures of other versions of dancer Rachel. Feel free to laugh/mock/make fun.....just know the SUPER embarrassing pictures will never ever see the light of day.

Thanks for reading :) Watch for the I Charleston video later this month! :)