Thursday, December 27, 2007

Old Year, New Year

It's about that time. Time to reflect on what's transpired and what will come. The first is, of course, easier to figure out. So, I'll start there. The last year has brought me many things, involved various accomplishments and given me lots of happy memories. In keeping with my age, I will list that many relished feats and happy times in 2007. Here are some favorites:

1) ran a half marathon
2) started blogging
3) started a book club with a very good friend and, as a result, started reading more.
4) got a bit of much-needed therapy
5) got back together with Male. What can I say? I just like him.
6) ran a 5k with my nephew, Christopher
7) went home for Thanksgiving
8) survived a family reunion in St. George
9) went to Colorado for the 1st time with some friends and went rafting
10) went to Vegas with some friends and had a rip roaring good time
11) ran into a moose and survived to tell the tale.
12) sent my parents away on a mission. Twice.
13) got over myself a little bit and learned how to love better.
14) bought new clothes that I love.
15) worked at a much-loved clothing store for a year, gained great experience, learned lots and made some great friends
16) started planning a business venture
17) started studying for the LSAT
18) managed to save instead of going into debt ( even if I didn't save as much as I wanted to)
19) bought a camera. I LOVE that thing
20) didn't break up with Male. Not once. It took some restraint, I'll admit, but I think I'm better for it.
21) got a roommate. And she's totally rad.
22) got my favorite calling back. Yeah!
23) started buying furniture-like things. I have a filing cabinet AND a book shelf. It makes me feel like more of an adult, somehow.
24) got into ebay auctions. They are so fun. And so addictive.
25) got Male to start to learn swing dancing
26) I haven't verified this with anyone, but I think I became a better listener. Really, I do.
27) kept dancing and hoola hooping :)
28) redecorated my bathroom. Oh, it just looks so good.

As for the coming year and what it will bring, there's really no way of telling, but here's a brainstorm of various directions I would like to be headed. (note I wrote "directions", plural. We all well know I could never limit myself to just one).

1) find a new, better paying job. I would be willing to substitute this fo my current job paying me better. But I prefer a new job. So I'll shoot for that.
2) start business venture. There's a lot that goes into this one. Lots of time and lots of steps. And licensing. In fact, I think this one resolution should count for a gazillion. Yipes, jeepers, heavens to Betsy and criminy, all in one. Whoever Betsy is. But I'll just count it as one for now.
3) go to London. London misses me. And I miss London.
4) nurse my ankles back to health enough to be able to run again. I'm being very well behaved right now. I won't even bring my running shoes to the gym, just so I'm not tempted to test them out yet. Some day I can bring them. Some day soon. But not yet.
5) teach Male to swing dance. I have great hopes for him. And he shows promise.
6) love better. I learn more all the time. Relationships are good teachers. In my recent experience, I find that loving people hurts a lot. And I'd say christian theology supports my theory. So, at times I feel inclined to stop. However, the alternative is much less happy. Don't that just beat all.
7) see my sister more and make time to help her with her kids.
8) make more time for friends and family. As the years pass me, I realize I'm not very good at this, and at some point I will look back and wish I had made the time. Now's a better time to start so that point doesn't come.
9) save money. Note I didn't say how much. This is because I like to avoid failure. Thus, I stick to being vague and I manage to avoid failure, for the most part. You can see this as a trend in many a New Year's resolution.
10) take the LSAT. I think. This one might get delayed. Honestly, a girl can only do so much in a year and as I read through this list, I can see I'm giving myself a full agenda already. But no harm in aiming high, right?
11) run some 5k's. That is of course, if I can run at all. I hope, I hope, I hope.
12) keep dancing & hoola hooping. It's quirky, as am I, and I just love it. I sometimes reflect back to when I was a little girl dancing to my dad's Elvis cd's in the living room cuz I just couldn't help myself. Here I am 20 yrs later, and though Elvis may be replaced my Gwen Stefani or Pink, I find I haven't changed much. Ok, so puberty happened. Even so, that continuity is still there. It's comforting.
13) keep up the book club. And keep up WITH the book club. It's a challenge. I don't know how Joan does it.
14) keep blogging. It's good for the soul.
15) eat less sugar. I like to make easy goals for myself. Take this resolution for example-- I just have to commit to eating 19 pieces of candy per day, instead of 20 and I've succeeded! See? That simple. Of course, I could go full throttle and do some kind of cleanse or something to flush it all out of my system, but I'm always leary of extreme measures. And I do love sugar.
16) buy a laptop computer. I'd like to get one yesterday. It's amazing I've survived so long without one, really.
17) buy a blackberry or something like it. The phone I have now is sleek and sexy, but it doesn't quite cut it. I think I need to trade in sleek & sexy for practical.
18) learn some more Spanish. This won't be too hard since I only remember a whole of 5 words from the class I was in last year.
19) get another book shelf. My book collection keeps growing. I wonder why?....
20) grow my hair out and don't dye it so I can donate it to charity.
21) work out 3x/wk. On average. Give or take a day.
22) get more home workout equipment,like maybe an exercise ball, or an aerobic step, or a punching bag, or a stationary bike.. stuff like that.
23) rent out my studio.
24) budget better. Thus, I can save more and waste less on clothes. Of course, I'll still buy fabulous clothes that I do, in fact, need. And I do mean "need". I'll just be more strategic and choosy about it so as not to waste.
25) don't speed (in hopes the end result will be that I don't get speeding tickets. )
26) cook more often. Again, this one should be easy since I presently don't cook at all.
27) redecorate another room in the house.
28) have people over for dinner on Sunday. Ooh, that's a good one. Yes indeed. That helps me with my resolutions to spend more time with family AND cook more often. Brilliant!
29) buy one pair of absolutely fabulous, to die for, I love you, I love you shoes. A couple of my I love you, I love you shoes are getting tattered and need to be retired. I need replacements. Expensive replacements. Oh, heaven help me and my love for personal adornment.

There we have it. Twenty-nine resolutions for my 29th year. I should be overwhelmed. But I'm not because I am presently giving absolutely no consideration to how much effort all that will take to accomplish. And I refuse to do so. So there. Ya know, I just love goals and new years resolutions and all that 5 year, 20 year planning mumbo jumbo. It's so motivating. And it kind of points me in a direction so I know where I'm headed. I just like that. I don't know how anybody gets anywhere without this stuff. And I find it so exciting. Am I the only one?

I also like realizing there are lots of things I'm glad I don't need to include on my list. For example, I don't need to stop drinking or quit smoking, stay out of rehab, leave my boyfriend who beats me up or wean myself off meth. This is good, no? In that kind of light, I get quite pleased with my current situation.

Of course, I realize this list has other items that are not on it that may be missed by some. I am sure most of my friends reading this will be disappointed to see that I have not included any resolutions or list items containing words like marriage, bridal shower, engagement, ring shopping or honeymoon. What can I say? When I start making resolutions or goals in that direction, I assure you all, you will be the first to know. Just don't start checking the blog every day expecting something like that to be posted.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Give Said The Christmas Tree....

Give oh give, give oh give.... forgive me. It's a catchy tune and I couldn't help myself. Ok, so I have been in the Christmas spirit for a while. I've been looking forward to the season so much I almost can't believe myself. I had no idea I was such a relisher of the holiday season. Apparently I am.

What do I love about it?

1) I absolutely love gift giving. I've been looking forward to it for months, actually, just waiting for the time I could finally get that perfect gift for so-and-so. I find fewer things as satisfying as lavishing someone with something they really treasure or some luxury they wouldn't normally afford themselves, whether that be pedicures, basketball tickets, a framed drawing or whatever. It's the most fun! Expensive... perhaps. I totally can't gift-give on a budget. Not that I give trips to Greece or new cars, of course. But it just doesn't seem to compute in my head to give on a budget. I've noticed, however, nobody I've given a gift to has complained about that. Go figure. And it makes me so darn happy, it just might be worth every overspent penny.

2) The music. The songs are so great it's a pity we only sing them during the season. Especially the hymns and Gloria Hallelujah type songs. They're gorgeous! (Sorry, Santa Baby. I love you, but you're second in my heart to Angels We Have Heard on High... and a few others) And despite having been one of those people to exhibit disdain when hearing Christmas music out of season, I confess to having started listening to my cd's almost an entire month before Thanksgiving. I just couldn't help myself.

3) treats at the office. My coworker and I have been doing the chocolate dance all month, hoping the businesses we work with would grace us with chocolate from See's, Harry & David food stuffs and other treats in the spirit of holiday giving. We finally cashed in this week. Previously, when said dancing appeared fruitless, we resorted to providing our own chocolate for the season. My new motto: should nobody bring chocolate, buy your own. One of the few easy fixes in the world I've found.

4) Parties!!! I love parties. I happen to be the coordinator of a holiday party this year, and I am SO excited. There is gonna be yummy food, friends, music and I get to dress up a little. What's not to love?

5) Days off work. 'Nuf said.

6) Random acts of kindness: Our office mailman left us a card in our mailbox thanking us for being such good customers and wishing us happy holidays. I don't know that he had a choice in serving us or that we had a choice in whether or not he was our mailman. And I was unaware that picking up mail was grounds for being a good customer. And we've never met the mailman. But I totally dig the cute homemade card and the thought. Nutty. But totally heartwarming. There's some holiday spirit for you. Go Mr. (or Ms.) Mailman!

7) Christmas bonus. No better way for the boss to say Merry Christmas than with a very festive, and most heart-warming, green-colored gift.

8) This holiday season, I just learned how to joke with my boss. There's a fun Christmas gift I didn't expect to find. Seriously, it's been a challenge and there are few things more awkward than a blank stare from your boss after a joke. But I actually made him laugh today. Really. How refreshing.

9) A season when family and relationships are given more emphasis than all the other cares in the world. That's nothin' but good. And I lesson I could do better at remembering the rest of the year.

10) Christmas cards! I love all the cards my parents get from family and friend that fill me in on the lives of all those fabulous people I grew up knowing and continue to love. Someday I'll do that. Either when I have someone more than myself to report on, or perhaps when I turn 35. For some reason, 35 seems to me like a good year for growing up and doing adult things. Maybe like writing christmas cards.

A few things I DON'T Like about the holidays:

1) I totally dread the Salvation Army people parked in front of the supermarket. I know, I know. That's awful.

2) The traffic. You can't drive anywhere these days without it taking 3 x's as long with all those Christmas shoppers in transit!

3) The fact that everybody else at my work is taking vacation over the holiday season and I will be the lone person in the office every day between Christmas and New Year's. You feel sorry for me. I know. I feel very sorry for me. But honestly, couldn't we have just closed?

4) Trying to figure out what to say to people when they ask you, " So what do you want for Christmas?" Does anyone know what to say to that after they leave elementary school? And sadly enough, if it was affordable, I probably would have bought it myself already. Anybody want to buy me a lap top? Or a 3 month trip to South America? Or tickets to London for a couple weeks? Or maybe a six-figure salary? I think they sell them at Costco or WalMart. I hear they have everything in those big box stores. Just kidding. I'm really not that expensive. Ok, I am. But I am easily pleased as well. Maybe I should just suggest people get me cookware. That's what my parent's normally do and I love it --- it may be a gift given in hopes of a life of domestic bliss for their child, in hopes that I might set foot in my kitchen, or in hopes of both. But I know there's love there.


As I was writing this blog and expounding on things I don't like about the holidays, I realized with negatives number 5-7 that I actually forgot to write negatives and instead wrote things I DO like about the holidays by mistake! Ha ha. What can I say? I love a little more than I don't like. Thus, my lopsided list will remain lopsided. Happy Holidays!!!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Home for a Holiday

I went home for Thanksgiving this year. And somehow I managed to persuade Male to come with me. We had a great time. We spent Thanksgiving with my oldest brother and his family in South Jersey. And we traveled back down again to his house the next day, to make as much use of my Settlers of Catan game as we could. We also visited a lovely little place called Ringing Rock Park. It's got a nice hike and a waterfall. But most amazing is the field of huge rocks and boulders. When you tap on the rocks and boulders, they ring like bells. Cool, huh? I thought so.

Anyhow, I brought my camera along for the trip. Unfortunately, I have yet to be used to having a camera handy for family affairs. So, I have no cute pictures of my nieces and nephews. Or Thanksgiving. Or the day after. But I did remember to bring the camera with Male and I when we went to see the Statue of Liberty.

We also got a few shots of the early birds one lovely morning. With nothing to show for ourselves but sour faces, it is clear we are good abiding mormons who don't use coffee and sugar in the morning. Otherwise, we might look friendlier. And the winner is --- the man who had the muster to smile. Impressive, Male. Very impressive.






Here's a few pictures of our Statue of Liberty escapade. We ended up taking the longest ferry route possible that day during our visit. We traveled from the Jersey shore to Ellis Island 1st. Unfortunately, we didn't get off. Instead we decided to go to the Statue of Liberty 1st. No bid deal, right? That's what we thought too. So naive. After the Statue, we traveled back to Ellis Island. This we expected. But then we had to travel back to the Statue of Liberty in order to get back to the Jersey shore. And FYI - the ferrys don't run all the time. You must wait for them. In the cold. For a long time. If ever you should travel that way, take my advice. Just get off wherever the ferry leads you. You might say the ferry is "inspired". Go with the ferry.

Anyhow, it was really good to be home. I need to click my ruby red heels that direction more often.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Grinch Names

101 on how to amuse yourself at work on a snowy, quiet, wintry, nobody-else-is-at-their-office-and-is-probably-home-snuggling-ina-a-blanket-with-hot-chocolate kind of Friday. You can find yours too if you click on the "Grinch Names" blog title just above.

My grinch name has a lovely ring to it. Don't you think? :)

Crabbygrinch Fussynoggin



Diversify, Diversify, Diversify

What to do, what to do.... Currently, I find myself going in a million different directions. As usual. Good to know I am, if nothing else, consistent.

Working and having an education in the nonprofit field and being involved in revenue development, I have a keen understanding in the need for diversified funding sources, which is a very sensible adherence to the belief that you should not "put all your eggs in one basket." Nonprofits are better positioned and more stable when they have at least 12 to 15 different sources of income. That way, if one should pull out on you, it won't sink your organization.

Well, apparently I take this advice to heart. As I see it, I am, on a smaller scale, my own little nonprofit. Heaven knows most of my personal pursuits are of the kind that suck money rather than generate income, which is as nonprofit as it comes. And indeed, I have found that my approach towards income, as well as marketability and experience, is to diversify, diversify, diversify. I can't help it.

Take NOW for an example:

1) I work at a nonprofit organization. I'm also currently (please don't tell my boss), looking for a job at another nonprofit organization.

2) I also work part-time at a clothing store.I like it there. A fun little fact about our store: we were just featured in a NY Times article last week. I almost felt famous because I work there.

3) I like to sell things on Ebay when I come to possess things I don't have a use for or no longer want. I like doing that. It amuses me.

4) I have a studio in Park City that doesn't really generate revenue, but it does generate tax breaks and equity.

5) In addition, I am applying for a slightly higher-paying part-time job at a restaurant. I, of course, have no intention of quitting the first part-time job at the clothing store, as I like the store, they are nice to me and they need help. I will simply take on this and then pop in and work at the clothing store "whenever I have time."

6) New and incredibly fun, I am starting to design dresses and my sibling and I have in the works plans for launching a women's line of formal dresses: beautiful, well-made, dare I say "sexy" and classy dresses for women who prefer not to walk around half-naked in order to catch someone's eye.

7) And then, there is the LSAT and contemplation of undertaking three years of law school and taking the bar to become a lawyer.

That's not 12-15 sources, and they don't all generate revenue yet, but it's more than a handful of options. How do I not feel all over the place? The answer to that: I do. But I'm used to it. I've had my hand in too many honey pots since I was a freshman in high school. The only difference is when I was in high school all my honey pots were non-revenue producing clubs and activities (I've grown slightly more lucrative in my old age). With these 7 or so pursuits, one might think that my basket "overfloweth". And, to be honest, I really wonder how one person can do all of this. I don't know that it's possible. I think I need five lives to be able to do all the things I have an inclination to think are interesting and want to pursue.

Who knows if all of it will happen. Does it really matter if it doesn't? I don't think so. And it won't happen if I say it won't and don't try, right? So, try is what I do every day. I get done what I can get done, take life as it comes, and make plans. Some plans don't happen. Some do. Some succeed. Some fail. I've been on the job search for a better and better-paying job for about 3 or 4 months now and what I have uncovered? Most recent: 2 "no, but thank you for interviewing's" this week. OUCH. And yet I have hope.

I got down about it once and told my boyfriend, Male, I felt unemployable. He laughed and reminded me that I currently have three jobs. It's easy to get down about interviewing and about opportunities you want that don't seem to come easily. But I think, when I am thinking rationally, even though my present situation doesn't reflect it right now, that I will have the income, ability and time to take all the risks I need to pursue whatever I want. Maybe even everything on my list. I'm young yet, and throughout my life I imagine I'll be in many different phases and places. One thing I like about being born in this age as opposed to 30 years ago is that careers now-a-days change so much and people pursuing new things is commonplace. So, I'll keep talking crazy and making lots of plans. Diversify, diversify, diversify.