shawni shimbashi

April 4th was a good day.  I woke up at 5am (no, that was not a typo, and yes, I am now capable of rising before the sun, contrary to popular belief) and went to work at 6.  Things went really well, but in the last hour of work I started to notice how energy-drained I was.  I stopped by the College Avenue Deli and picked up a Gyro on pita bread with tzatziki,  hummus, feta, Greek chicken and lot of veggies.  It has quickly become one of my top 5 restaurants in this town. 

I was able to slip a nap in before sound check.  Oh right, I should probably acknowledge the poster above.  I  was invited to play at a Japan relief benefit concert.  It was a blast!  I saw lot of friends, heard some great tunes, and played a short set with my friend Dan on the djembe(he’s so good!).  I had a promo last night where I was giving 1/2 my CD sales to the cause.  Well, due to a hasty and poor calculation on my part, I ended up giving 100% of the sales, but it ended up being better that way.  Although I didn’t win the ipad raffle, I was able to purchase some of the tasty goodies from the bake sale, listen to some great live music, and help to support a good cause.  

I topped off the night by sharing a box of Dots with Blake.  We love those Dots.

(Source: facebook.com)

As I was leaving work today, my good friend Alex sent me a text that read:

“Shawn.  This is serious, what I’m about to say.  I have to spend the rest of my gift card to Lulu Bella and I need some guidance.  And it expires April 1st…I need you!”

Hahaha.  At first glance I was worried that it really might be some detrimental news, but then I realized that everyone has a different relationship with fashion.  Fashion is to Alex what music is to me.  This is indeed, “serious.”  She is one of my most stylin friends and can envision an outfit faster as I could order a peanut butter mood at Jamba. 

So I went along as her “fashion adviser,” intending on buying nothing.  The problem is, that I can be a bit impulsive as a shopper.  In an attempt to preserve the contents of my wallet a little longer, I forced myself to actually sit down outside a fitting room and distract myself by watching a video of my adorable baby niece on my phone.  I WAS doing very well…  

but then I found some killer deals, such as a pair of earthy earrings for $4, and a beautiful plum cardigan for $11.  So I caved just a bit, but I regret nothing.  All my purchases were Alex Approved, and so it was that the adviser became the advisee.  

FIN.

P.S. Alex was wise beyond her years and put her items on hold so that she had more time to contemplate her purchases. I have so much to learn.

Have you ever watched the movie Chocolat with Johnny Depp, and marveled and drooled over the scenes in the chocolaterie where rich, creamy chocolate was being churned?  Both times that I have seen that movie I have had a sudden urge to make chocolate.   This type of thing generally goes away shortly after the film is over, however, this one was different. 

I hadn’t the foggiest clue as to what making chocolate entailed.  My Blake was curious about this too, so I managed to find an “all ingredients included” package deal.  We spent the night learning about the history and the process of making chocolate, we ate cacoa beans, and we immersed ourselves in creativity.  

We made chalkatoffee, Rocky Balboa Road, toastedcoconutty, peanutbutterbreath, and some other varieties that shall not be named. It was bushels of fun and barrels of yum :)

                                     You think someone’s being helpful…

                          then this is what happens when you let your guard down.

What a great post-work evening.  One day I will make chocolate that will knock your socks off, but for now, I’m working on the basics. This is anther one of my random aspirations, but also a metaphor for most things in my life.  Everything is being developed, and nothing is perfect.  I enjoy this state of being, and I will enjoy a full night’s sleep even more. 

Shawni

Setting: Dimly lit parking lot at 10:20pm, Southeastern Idaho

Tonight as I took two heavy trash bags and a small paper bag out to the garbage bin, I spent a split second deciding which to toss in first- the two heavy bags that I was holding in my right hand, or the lighter paper bag that consisted of mostly wrappers and bottles from my recent road trip to Montana in my left.  For some reason I chose to throw in the paper bag first.  About half a second after I threw in the bag, a figure as dark as night jumped out of the trash bin, landing partially on my leg before it scurried to safety.  I had a freak out moment where I started questioning what just happened, and what just jumped on me.  Through deductive reasoning, I determined that it must have been a large cat.  I’m sure that if I threw in the two heavy bags in first, I would figuratively have a cat’s blood on my hands.  This is further personal proof that everything happens for a reason.

I’m out. 

in fact, it has been months since my last post of any real substance.  I’m disgusted by this realization but I am determined to do better!  So much has happened since July, but I’ll break it down simply for now:

• I recovered from my tonsillectomy and I can sing again! (yaya) I did, however, get out of the Jello phase almost as quickly as I got into it.  It turns out that too much of a good thing can often result in awful, peachy, gag-inducing effects.
• I moved to Las Vegas!  I fell in love with the diversity, energy, and culture of this city.  The Strip has a culture of its own, but the rest of the city and suburbs are top notch.  I also fell in love with teaching my 54 kindergarten students(awe…) while I was there.  I’ll most likely be reflecting on this later, but this three month adventure was as Fabulous as Las Vegas itself. 

                           <—(The Golden Elvis and I)

• When my internship was over, I moved back to Southern Alberta for about a month and 1/2.  I enjoyed spending my holidays with my family (including my baby niece who just so happens to share my middle name with me) and friends. 
• My most recent move was back to Rexburg, Idaho.  Yes, Rexburg.  I vowed never to live here again after spending the greater part of the past four years here completing my bachelors degree, but love and life happens and I ate my words. 
• Now I’m working a couple jobs to get back on my feet while also working on some creative projects.  Many semi-finished songs are on the way along with a couple of children’s books that I’m working on.  When I’m not doing these things, I’m enjoying every spare minute with my favorite person in the world. 

I’m determined to write more often as a means of keeping anyone informed who is interested in my life, and as a creative outlet for myself. 

More to come soon!  I love you if you read this, but if you don’t, I just like you. 

Shawni