Who am I?

Have you ever had to define yourself? How do you do it? By your likes and dislikes, where you work, who you married?. If I asked you to describe yourself, what would you say? For me, it would go something like this..

you- "Cara, how would describe yourself?"

me- "oh that's easy. I'm short, have brown hair, blue eyes and my favorite movie is Ghostbusters". I love Starbucks and really love popcorn. Like REALLY love it.

If you've been visiting the blog over the last few days and weeks, you've seen it change colour, font, picture, template, background and layout. Not once, not twice but, like, a hundred times. The last concept had a look similar to the bedroom of a 13 year-old-girl who loves puppies and butterflies. The one before showed evidence of being thrown together by someone with multiple personalities and WAY too much coffee. I've tried so many different looks in the last 5 days that I can no longer remember what I've already tried. I have worn out my computer keys trying to find something -ANYTHING-I loved and thought represented me.

And now I have. This is the new look of Maintaining Alignment.

I look at this and it screams Cara Simpson Symonds Simpson Reinelt. everything I enjoy: water, the beach, the outdoors, relaxing with friends. Eating popcorn while drinking Starbucks on this dock...well. That's a perfect day right there.

Enjoy this new look, I know I do.

Duh, Winning?

OK. Unless you've been residing in a cave or are in complete media blackout these past weeks, you've heard about the recent escapades of Charlie Sheen. I try so hard to not pay attention to the gossip and the ever-so-quick-to-judge rumours that fly around, but thanks to TV, magazines, Facebook, and the internet in general, it's becoming harder and harder. I have to admit, my first words were something along the lines of "o.k. So. He's crazy."

I realize that what's being shown is NOT the real story. The real story is so much more complicated. This might be a carefully thought out plan for extra press. It might not be. If not, then clearly this is a man traveling a very dark path and I can only imagine how many people are wanting to step in and help.

During a TV special yesterday, I listened as Charlie Sheen made obscure, bizarre sentences that usually ended with the word "winning". I also very carefully watched the people with him. If (and I do mean if) this downward spiral of a fellow human being is actually happening and it's not some publicity stunt, then I question his so called "friends". It appears that they are all having a great time enjoying their 15 minutes of fame while someone they claim to care about is slipping further and further away. Charlie Sheen has been fired from his very popular TV show and who knows what his future holds.

So this is where I call out to all friends, family and acquaintances:

O.K. people,
If there is ever a time that I am referring to people as trolls, calling myself a warlock and stating that I have tiger blood in my veins (which I'm sure is completely illegal), you have my FULL permission to step in and take action. I may not like it, and I may even fight it, but suck it up. I'm only 5'2" and although I pretend to know martial arts, I can probably be taken down quite easily. This is how I know you love me. By not just sitting by and supporting my new completely delusional lifestyle, you are showing me that I matter to you and that you want me around for a while.

Thank you in advance.

P.S. you could probably lure me anywhere with popcorn. Just a tip.