i seem to have left out from the beginning why i named my blog "helping garden gnomes." sadly i see that this makes me seem like a slight weirdo who actually believes that gnomes are real living things that need saving apparently. this is not the case i assure you! although i might change my mind if any more news reports surface about that gnome in argentina - just kidding!
the phrase "it's better to help people than garden gnomes" comes from the movie amelie (notice the gnome in the trailer). if you haven't seen this movie - do. i will warn you that there is some objectionable content (a sex scene near the beginning, one in the middle, and one of the characters works at a sex shop) but please don't let that deter you too much! this is a tale of a terribly shy secret-do-gooder who decides to help change the lives of those around her, while struggling with her own isolation. at a point in the film she removes a gnome statue from her father's garden and sends him on a trip around the world - this in turn makes her father realize that he too could get out and see the world. she finds that is better to help people than just garden gnomes. here is maybe my favorite scene from the movie. amelie has just accomplished successfully her first act of kindness and is ready for more. she knows of a blind man that sits in the subway playing music from a record player for money. she sees him on the street and becomes his eyes for a brief moment.
this is what i would like my life to be like, but unfortunately, i tend to help the gnomes more than the people around me. that's why i titled my blog helping garden gnomes. kind of sad really. i'm working on it though :)
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
imelda?
imelda? like imelda marcos with all the shoes? i'm not sure actually, but sawyer from lost tells me that's what his nickname for me would be on the island.
lost nickname generator
the terrorizing gnome of argentina!
my friend tirzah, "the african beauty", just sent me a link that i think deserves posting. this is why i try to help garden gnomes whenever possible...they start to terrorize people if not looked after properly.
"creepy gnome" terrorizes town
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
you're haunting me
dearest starbucks,
i realized yesterday after i wrote to you about my unfaithfulness that your presence will always haunt me. yesterday while at the grocery, i saw your face no less than four times. my first reminder of our old life together was immediately upon entering the store. there you were, hiding in the corner tucked away next to the specialty cheese cooler, your gentle fragrance slowly swirling around beckoning me to come to you and enjoy your warm flavor. but i held strong, those times are over between us - we can meet occasionally, but you will not bully me or manipulate me back into a serious relationship with you.
i then passed a cooler of drinks and saw your face again. a bottled frappucino - which i don't like - but i was almost tempted. then, down the coffee aisle. shelves upon shelves of your wonderfully roasted beans calling out to me. my will power held as you tried desperately to lure me back. but then, i went down the snack aisle...a seemingly safe zone from temptations from you. i glanced to the left and there on the top shelf, in beautifully simple and alluring packaging, you were. you were disguised as a mocha dark chocolate bar - i had never seen that side of you before and a glimmer of our old life and a hope for a new future between us was sparked. your scheming ways worked. i bought you and delighted in your perfectly smooth creamy chocolate with just the right hint of coffee and bits of bean. i suppose our relationship can continue a little longer in this new way. but i am warning you that i'm on to you - i know this could be some kind of trap and i am ready to run if i have to. i want to trust you, i do.
your apprehensively,
elisa.
p.s. i truly think it was a sign that i looked left last night as it was your first day of being chocolate too. http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=838
i realized yesterday after i wrote to you about my unfaithfulness that your presence will always haunt me. yesterday while at the grocery, i saw your face no less than four times. my first reminder of our old life together was immediately upon entering the store. there you were, hiding in the corner tucked away next to the specialty cheese cooler, your gentle fragrance slowly swirling around beckoning me to come to you and enjoy your warm flavor. but i held strong, those times are over between us - we can meet occasionally, but you will not bully me or manipulate me back into a serious relationship with you.
i then passed a cooler of drinks and saw your face again. a bottled frappucino - which i don't like - but i was almost tempted. then, down the coffee aisle. shelves upon shelves of your wonderfully roasted beans calling out to me. my will power held as you tried desperately to lure me back. but then, i went down the snack aisle...a seemingly safe zone from temptations from you. i glanced to the left and there on the top shelf, in beautifully simple and alluring packaging, you were. you were disguised as a mocha dark chocolate bar - i had never seen that side of you before and a glimmer of our old life and a hope for a new future between us was sparked. your scheming ways worked. i bought you and delighted in your perfectly smooth creamy chocolate with just the right hint of coffee and bits of bean. i suppose our relationship can continue a little longer in this new way. but i am warning you that i'm on to you - i know this could be some kind of trap and i am ready to run if i have to. i want to trust you, i do.
your apprehensively,
elisa.
p.s. i truly think it was a sign that i looked left last night as it was your first day of being chocolate too. http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=838
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
confessions...
dearest starbucks,
i know i've been distant lately and we haven't been seeing as much of each other. i'm sorry i haven't been completely honest with you. i don't know quite how to put this. i suppose i should just get it out there fast and quick like ripping off a band aid.
i have been going somewhere else.
it was a chance encounter. my parents introduced us at christmas time and we really hit it off. i've actually been going almost every day. i know we've shared some truly great times recently. last saturday when the weather finally felt like spring and we walked to see you and sat beneath your shady green umbrellas is a memory i will cherish forever. and our time every friday afternoon with lauren at coffee club has brought times of joy and renewal to our lives. there were weeks where i sought you out every day, and days where i would go out of my way to see you several times a day. i couldn't get enough of you. in a way you could say i became obsessed. you have a luring quality that cannot be denied.
but, this new place is a new way of life. it's a change that i have longed for. i only have to walk as far as my kitchen to enjoy the beautiful aroma of a freshly pulled espresso shot. in fact, it's moved in permanently. here it doesn't matter if i get cleaned up or put on makeup. here i can totally be myself. and honestly, not to hurt you but to inform you, here is much much better coffee and you are not a cheap date. i mean, $3.50 for a latte? here it only costs maybe a dollar. my eyes were opened to your sometimes scheming ways. i wanted an out and i found one.
you'll always have a special place in my heart and i hope we can still be friends and see each other socially every now and then. we'll always have friday afternoon coffee club and sundays after church. i hope you know that i never meant to hurt you.
yours affectionately,
elisa.
p.s. i'm sorry that my parents actually met your replacement while visiting you...i know he's like your brother and i'm sure that is very hard for you.
i know i've been distant lately and we haven't been seeing as much of each other. i'm sorry i haven't been completely honest with you. i don't know quite how to put this. i suppose i should just get it out there fast and quick like ripping off a band aid.
i have been going somewhere else.
it was a chance encounter. my parents introduced us at christmas time and we really hit it off. i've actually been going almost every day. i know we've shared some truly great times recently. last saturday when the weather finally felt like spring and we walked to see you and sat beneath your shady green umbrellas is a memory i will cherish forever. and our time every friday afternoon with lauren at coffee club has brought times of joy and renewal to our lives. there were weeks where i sought you out every day, and days where i would go out of my way to see you several times a day. i couldn't get enough of you. in a way you could say i became obsessed. you have a luring quality that cannot be denied.
but, this new place is a new way of life. it's a change that i have longed for. i only have to walk as far as my kitchen to enjoy the beautiful aroma of a freshly pulled espresso shot. in fact, it's moved in permanently. here it doesn't matter if i get cleaned up or put on makeup. here i can totally be myself. and honestly, not to hurt you but to inform you, here is much much better coffee and you are not a cheap date. i mean, $3.50 for a latte? here it only costs maybe a dollar. my eyes were opened to your sometimes scheming ways. i wanted an out and i found one.
you'll always have a special place in my heart and i hope we can still be friends and see each other socially every now and then. we'll always have friday afternoon coffee club and sundays after church. i hope you know that i never meant to hurt you.
yours affectionately,
elisa.
p.s. i'm sorry that my parents actually met your replacement while visiting you...i know he's like your brother and i'm sure that is very hard for you.
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