One of my passion projects this past week has been to develop a Personal Credo (writing exercise example, leadership credo example).
A credo is a statement of your beliefs and values that guide your actions. I think I'm 90% there, but of course, as I grow as a person, this will evolve with me.
Personal Credo
I believe in being ethical and aware, treating everyone around me with kindness, respect and compassion. And above all, I try to have sunshine inside of me to share with those around me.
I am passionate about language and helping people be the best communicators they can be.
Everything everyone needs to succeed is inside of them, they just need to peel back the layers.
I love working in diverse groups, but I need to focus on analysis and writing in the zone during alone time. I believe in taking the time to building trust, structure and a strong foundation for any partnership.
I continue to accept challenges and opportunities to learn and grow. There are no mistakes, only lessons. The only right way is forward.
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
10.14.2016
6.19.2016
Do You Bullet Journal?
I recently learned about a new way of journaling, called bullet journaling, from a friend's LinkedIn post.
This two-year old journaling technique was developed by product designer Ryder Carroll. It's intended to be simple and minimalistic, but many people are also using it as a creative outlet. It basically combines your calendar, reminders, to-do list, and life goals tracker.
Here is a video introduction from Carroll:
Each bullet journal has four main sections:
The basic tools I'm using to kickstart this habit are:
This two-year old journaling technique was developed by product designer Ryder Carroll. It's intended to be simple and minimalistic, but many people are also using it as a creative outlet. It basically combines your calendar, reminders, to-do list, and life goals tracker.
Here is a video introduction from Carroll:
Each bullet journal has four main sections:
- The index or key spread - the first two facing pages with a list of the sections in the journal with the page numbers.
- Future log spread - a list of important dates by month.
- Monthly and Daily log spread - the month's dates and days of the week, as well as a daily log.
- Collections - a collection is a list of things that you're passionate about, such as movies, television shows, music, life goals, or more.
Collections are lists of reminders by category. For example, you could create a list of movies you'd like to watch this month, or favorite songs you discovered this month. When one month comes to a close, you start the next one on the next spread over - and also carry over any activities as needed.
I have always been a HUGE fan of journaling and personal organizers but have failed terribly in maintaining either habit consistently. I'm going to give this six months and see how it goes.
The basic tools I'm using to kickstart this habit are:
- Eccolo Cool Jazz graph journal with pen loop
- Uni-Ball Signo Micro 307 in black ink
- Staedtler 10 Triplus fineliner marker set
If you are interested in learning more about bullet journaling, here are some of the resources that helped me get started:
- Quarz: People are falling in love with a simple productivity system
- Bullet journal, getting started
- Lazy Genious' Collective: The Absolute Ultimate Guide
- The Art of Simple: How I Use my Bullet Journal
- Marie Claire: WTF is a bullet journal?
- Bullet Journal Joy
- Los Angeles Times: Everything you need to know about bullet journaling
- BuzzFeed: WTF is a bullet journal
- MakeUseOf: Using Evernote as a bullet journal
3.01.2015
Searching for Home
Back in June we moved to Palatine, Illinois to a one-bedroom apartment. It was a very large change that we're still getting used to. After all, our previous 10 years were spent living in a three-level townhome in Aurora.
Downsizing is a fashion word these days. Many people look forward to what a simpler lifestyle could be like, if only they had less complications and "things' crowding them in their lives.
I didn't have a problem changing geography, planning what to keep and what to give to charity. I got rid of a lot of things, a lot. What was difficult for me, was moving into a carpeted apartment! I hate carpet.
Then there's another realization. It's one thing moving into a one-bedroom apartment in the summer, when you can go outside all the time to explore nature, take walks or enjoy the sunshine on a leisurely day. In wintertime, in Chicago, one is literally stuck inside by large mounds of the white stuff. Ice makes patios slippery, and two or more feet of snow make walking the dog an impossibility--especially when the dog is literally buried in snow and can't move, much less walk.
We've been searching for a permanent home in this area since January 26. We've learned a lot about ourselves, about the loan approval process, real estate, and the state of the homes, townhomes and condos available for sale in our area. Quite the learning opportunity.
At first I was interested in the condos around the corner from our apartment complex. They have a lovely red brick on the outside, nice landscaping and have a lake/pond on either side. One side of the community faces a forest preserve, which is always nice. I took walks in that general area with my dog during September-November time.
One particular condo there became available and we decided to visit it. I really enjoyed it and, especially, the view to a wide open field and lake. Very relaxing and lots of privacy. Regrettably, the lender took an extraordinarily long time (over 2 weeks!) to provide a pre-approval letter and the condo was swept away from under our nose by another home buyer. We fired the lender immediately. The house is still contingent to this date.
Our second lender was an online service and they responded within 24 hours and provided a very healthy pre-approval letter immediately. We felt better.
We found a lovely single-family home in a well-established older/mature neighborhood. Every wall had windows and the warm winter sunlight entered to make the space bright and happy. We were filled with dreams and visions of what life could be like there. Regrettably, the home inspector found out that the foundation was cracked and the I-beam supporting the entire floor of this ranch home was cracked and in need of urgent fixing. We let it go.
Ever since, we've looked at single-family homes. Some homes are well maintained and painted, but the areas they are located in are poorly rated (school zones, etc.) some other homes are not maintained and/or have old features which really date them. If it's not the detached garage that's falling apart, it might be very dirty walls and carpets, or missing insulation in the attic. If not that, it's that it's impossible to exit the driveway into the busy road in front. All elements which reduce the home value when you want to sell it after you've lived there a few years.
We began rationalizing the homes' faults. This is a dangerous sign of buyer's exhaustion. We started thinking that small projects like updates, paint and flooring were possible. After all, getting some insulation up a flight of stairs into the attic isn't that big of a deal. Cleaning and repainting walls isn't that bad of a proposition. However, the amount of money needed for these little projects decreases the money the buyer can spend on buying the home. Many of these homeowners were requesting too much for their poorly maintained, 50-60 year old homes. It's just not reasonable.
Some of the bank owned homes we visited were the saddest. The heating was kept low enough that the pipes wouldn't freeze but humans walking inside them would be terribly cold. Some had missing appliances. Some had strange decor and paint. Some had huge update and standards issues. One even had an non-code compliant wiring problem near the fuse box in the laundry room and no dryer vent exhaust pipe.
The last straw was visiting a lovely ranch home in excellent condition, if a little dated from the early 90s, which was ready to move in. We were signing the bid contract when the seller's agent finally forwarded the missing disclosure document: the house suffered from termite infestation. That did it and we were almost ready to throw in the towel. Maybe our tiny apartment was not so bad after all.
Would we ever find a home in this area? Why aren't people smarter about how they keep their homes? Considering these were 50-60 year old homes, the owners were asking too much money for the condition. We wanted a home that's "ready to move in" or "turn key" as realtor lingo calls it. Not a "fixer upper" or "for flippers or investors" - yuck!
We decided to take a look at several condos. We got through one which we really liked that looks exactly like the first one we fell in love with back in late January, but in another city nearby. We will see how this search ends, or continues, with time. Time helps all.
Downsizing is a fashion word these days. Many people look forward to what a simpler lifestyle could be like, if only they had less complications and "things' crowding them in their lives.
I didn't have a problem changing geography, planning what to keep and what to give to charity. I got rid of a lot of things, a lot. What was difficult for me, was moving into a carpeted apartment! I hate carpet.
Then there's another realization. It's one thing moving into a one-bedroom apartment in the summer, when you can go outside all the time to explore nature, take walks or enjoy the sunshine on a leisurely day. In wintertime, in Chicago, one is literally stuck inside by large mounds of the white stuff. Ice makes patios slippery, and two or more feet of snow make walking the dog an impossibility--especially when the dog is literally buried in snow and can't move, much less walk.
We've been searching for a permanent home in this area since January 26. We've learned a lot about ourselves, about the loan approval process, real estate, and the state of the homes, townhomes and condos available for sale in our area. Quite the learning opportunity.
At first I was interested in the condos around the corner from our apartment complex. They have a lovely red brick on the outside, nice landscaping and have a lake/pond on either side. One side of the community faces a forest preserve, which is always nice. I took walks in that general area with my dog during September-November time.
One particular condo there became available and we decided to visit it. I really enjoyed it and, especially, the view to a wide open field and lake. Very relaxing and lots of privacy. Regrettably, the lender took an extraordinarily long time (over 2 weeks!) to provide a pre-approval letter and the condo was swept away from under our nose by another home buyer. We fired the lender immediately. The house is still contingent to this date.
Our second lender was an online service and they responded within 24 hours and provided a very healthy pre-approval letter immediately. We felt better.
We found a lovely single-family home in a well-established older/mature neighborhood. Every wall had windows and the warm winter sunlight entered to make the space bright and happy. We were filled with dreams and visions of what life could be like there. Regrettably, the home inspector found out that the foundation was cracked and the I-beam supporting the entire floor of this ranch home was cracked and in need of urgent fixing. We let it go.
Ever since, we've looked at single-family homes. Some homes are well maintained and painted, but the areas they are located in are poorly rated (school zones, etc.) some other homes are not maintained and/or have old features which really date them. If it's not the detached garage that's falling apart, it might be very dirty walls and carpets, or missing insulation in the attic. If not that, it's that it's impossible to exit the driveway into the busy road in front. All elements which reduce the home value when you want to sell it after you've lived there a few years.
We began rationalizing the homes' faults. This is a dangerous sign of buyer's exhaustion. We started thinking that small projects like updates, paint and flooring were possible. After all, getting some insulation up a flight of stairs into the attic isn't that big of a deal. Cleaning and repainting walls isn't that bad of a proposition. However, the amount of money needed for these little projects decreases the money the buyer can spend on buying the home. Many of these homeowners were requesting too much for their poorly maintained, 50-60 year old homes. It's just not reasonable.
Some of the bank owned homes we visited were the saddest. The heating was kept low enough that the pipes wouldn't freeze but humans walking inside them would be terribly cold. Some had missing appliances. Some had strange decor and paint. Some had huge update and standards issues. One even had an non-code compliant wiring problem near the fuse box in the laundry room and no dryer vent exhaust pipe.
The last straw was visiting a lovely ranch home in excellent condition, if a little dated from the early 90s, which was ready to move in. We were signing the bid contract when the seller's agent finally forwarded the missing disclosure document: the house suffered from termite infestation. That did it and we were almost ready to throw in the towel. Maybe our tiny apartment was not so bad after all.
Would we ever find a home in this area? Why aren't people smarter about how they keep their homes? Considering these were 50-60 year old homes, the owners were asking too much money for the condition. We wanted a home that's "ready to move in" or "turn key" as realtor lingo calls it. Not a "fixer upper" or "for flippers or investors" - yuck!
We decided to take a look at several condos. We got through one which we really liked that looks exactly like the first one we fell in love with back in late January, but in another city nearby. We will see how this search ends, or continues, with time. Time helps all.
12.18.2014
Vacation Update Day 2
Today was going to be different. I had errands and fun shopping to do!
Yesterday's trip and lack of sleep turned into a knock-em-dead kind of drowsiness that surprised even me. But after a couple of nappy winks, I couldnt go to sleep until after 11 pm. Where's my melatonin pills when I need em?!
All the same, I took advantage and watched several episodes of Leverage on Netflix on my phone. My 5-year-old laptop's screen died the night before.
It's sunny and 64F at 10:00 am? I'll take it! Nothing beats taking a warm shower after good-enough sleep while warm, blindingly bright sunshine rays stream over me. A sunlight shower.
Head out in the car, then U-turn back to check whether I forgot to shut the garage door...nop it's all good, just old age ;o)
Ah, fresh air in my lungs and sunlight warming my skin.
Vacation Update Day 1
I escaped Chicago early on a Wednesday morning, just as the bitter chill of winter was hitting town after a warm front.
Sorry but the sun decided to peek out too late that morning.
I was definitely ready for a mental and routine break, though I would miss my dog Benny terribly.
Warm sunshine and green, tropical foliage where waiting for me.
I dozed on and off after scanning through my issue of InStyle magazine, this edition proved unusually boring considering it was the holidays one.
Two hours and a half later I reached sunny, welcoming Tampa. Where the air I breathe doesn't hurt my noise our lungs. Deep inhale. Ah, sweet air. A nice change after the sardine can bottled air of a plane.
No check-in luggage meant smooth sailing through the monorail shuttle on down past the luggage carousels, expectant luggage owners, wide longing eyes, hoping their property arrived undisturbed in the next batch on the rolling belt.
Considering I was prepared for the worst at the car rental counter, just a couple minutes on the phone with my dad later, I convinced the attendant and her supervisor to invite me to step upstairs and grab my Corolla.
My first time with a Toyota, pishing aside rememberances of recalls and brake-related horror stories. It's black. My shoulders relaxed. I clicked the keyfob button and stepped into the drivers seat. The mirrors are a massacre of odd angles. The seat too far back. Lets get to work and on our way.
7.03.2014
Clearwater Heaven
One of my all-time favorite things to do in the Tampa area (since 1999!) has been drive into Clearwater Beach near sunset.
I immensely enjoy the sun's rays reaching out playfully to almost blind me, as I squint at it through sunglasses and straight palms.
The fluffy clouds are relaxed sentinels, quietly escorting us as we make our way through the Courtney Campbell Causeway (60).
I inhale the salt air and each and every muscle in my body feels like it's exhaling is tension away.
Heaven.
The promise of delectable seaside specialties, like broiled or grilled grouper, are just around the next bend.
We continue cruising through Clearwater Beach and Sand Key with dinner cruises sailing under the Gulf Boulevard bridge.
The sea breeze welcoming, the warm sunset hues caressing open windows in our vehicle. As we leisurely float on through the various barrier islands.
Heaven.
Thank you.
12.20.2013
Red Tailed Hawks
There are many red-tailed hawks in the area I work, live, and commute through. It's probably due to the abundance of forests and other green spaces. This makes for a few great sightings during day-to-day commutes.
One of my favorite pastimes during my morning commute on the highway is to count how many red-tailed
hawks I see, resting or aflight, near the many light poles bordering the highway.
On some days there have been twenty birds on just over 17 miles of roadway during my commute. It brings a huge smile to my face when I see quite a few, like that.
These birds of pray are gracious and fluid in their movements. When they sit still or take a nap they look like sentries, ever watchful.
Their coloring is a light tan looking, very feathery belly or a sandy/dark brown splotch against the bright skies.
Over the summer there were a couple of red-tailed hawks that stalked our street. They often took rest and squawked away as they sat over the
rooftop and gutter of the townhouse in front of ours.
They are quite noisy when they want to be, but I felt their being there was a treat. I wondered whether they were trying to tell us something, since that house they were resting over had been unlived in for almost a year.
I certainly wouldn't have minded it, if they were looking for squatters' rights.
It's neat seeing these hawks soaring through bright skies and in-between dark leafed trees when the warmer months are around. I sometimes see a couple of hawks by our house do a little tag-team hunting among wintry chilled and bare woods, while I walk my dog.
The first time I learned about the red-tailed hawk prevalence in our area was when I visited the Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora, Illinois, in September of 2009. That's probably when I started paying more attention at what wildlife lived near where I lived.
That guy at the Zoo was not very happy. He must have had to sit through having his photo taken by all the tourists going by that day. So he made sure to turn away for privacy when it was my turn in front of his cage.
I look forward to many more sightings of wild and free red-tailed hawks on the days to come. :o)
One of my favorite pastimes during my morning commute on the highway is to count how many red-tailed
 |
| let sleeping hawks lie |
On some days there have been twenty birds on just over 17 miles of roadway during my commute. It brings a huge smile to my face when I see quite a few, like that.
These birds of pray are gracious and fluid in their movements. When they sit still or take a nap they look like sentries, ever watchful.
Their coloring is a light tan looking, very feathery belly or a sandy/dark brown splotch against the bright skies.
 |
| neighborly hawk |
rooftop and gutter of the townhouse in front of ours.
They are quite noisy when they want to be, but I felt their being there was a treat. I wondered whether they were trying to tell us something, since that house they were resting over had been unlived in for almost a year.
I certainly wouldn't have minded it, if they were looking for squatters' rights.
It's neat seeing these hawks soaring through bright skies and in-between dark leafed trees when the warmer months are around. I sometimes see a couple of hawks by our house do a little tag-team hunting among wintry chilled and bare woods, while I walk my dog.
The first time I learned about the red-tailed hawk prevalence in our area was when I visited the Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora, Illinois, in September of 2009. That's probably when I started paying more attention at what wildlife lived near where I lived.
 |
| no pictures please, Phillips Zoo hawk |
That guy at the Zoo was not very happy. He must have had to sit through having his photo taken by all the tourists going by that day. So he made sure to turn away for privacy when it was my turn in front of his cage.
I look forward to many more sightings of wild and free red-tailed hawks on the days to come. :o)
12.19.2013
Screen Backgrounds
I changed the background images on my phone and at work, on my workstation. Check out the post explaining this change, on my Computing and Interwebs blog.
11.22.2013
Thinking About Spokespeople
I've been thinking a bit lately how organizational public relations, consumer expectations, and spin control are converging these days in the business world.
I see many CEOs getting in trouble for expressing their personal opinions whenever prompted--or egged on--by press people and causing all sorts of consumer boycotts and market-share loss.
Taking anyone's words out of context is one of today's media's favorite thing to do to stir up the pot. So that should be considered a constant factor in marketing anymore. But how come we are now aghast at CEOs as spokespeople? Or maybe it's just me.
I grew up studying a type of journalism that said "stick to the facts" and "cover all the bases/opinions" and "be thorough." I also grew up studying a type of public relations that said "script your message" and "train your spokesperson" and "delight your customer." So whenever I see a catastrophic quote out there being made into a mountain out of a mole hill, and coming from a CEO no less--spokesperson #1 for any organization--I kinda wonder what set of factors topped along the way to cause so much along the way to go so wrong.
Did the media instigate the CEO's quote? You can probably bet on it. But shouldn't have the CEO's staff have trained their CEO better, especially on how to react to a variety of possible situations? Of course. So why did the CEO still embarrass himself/herself and their organization? Why couldn't they go along with the brand image and stay on message?
The specific examples that I always think of whenever I think about these types of CEO fiascos, or blow ups, are the Chick-Fil-A CEO's anti-gay quote and the Barrilla CEO's anti-gay-commercials quote.
The thing that really stunned me about the Barilla CEO quote is that there are just as many wonderful gay Italians and single parents in Italy, that I can't imagine where the CEO came up with that "traditional" family thing. I guess these "diverse" or "unusual" folks and single-heads-of-household will have to resort to shopping for their pasta from one of the hundreds of pastifici (artisanal, fresh pasta) shops. Which is probably better for them and the local economy anyway.
Part of the problem is that these CEOs don't have a healthy understanding of what private and public boundaries are. They are perfectly entitled to have conservative--some may even say provincial--views in a progressively diversifying marketplace. But when they bring up these conflicting views and decimate the consumer's expectations, it just plainly spells trouble. It erodes their and their company's stake in the marketplace.
And to be honest, when it comes to "anti-gay" CEO statements, I think these CEOs could benefit from some personal supression themselves and shut their mouths. Nowadays, the unspoken mandate is to capture and retain fleeting consumer attention spans, not make enemies and lose millions just to be "right." Being able to "far bella figura" or have a good image and match the consumer's expectations, is the goal of the game.
Have you noticed how, typically, those who are assigned "spin control" in these instances, are quick-to-market young professionals who have a knack for all the immediate marketing channels (like social media). They may be green, and not have a lot of business experience under their belts, but they can attack the problem with the tools at their disposal and help mitigate explosive situations in the market. Videos and social media messages are launched instantaneously to begin the PR cleanup after these catastrophic CEO spills.
What if these young professionals have the same views as their CEOs? It doesn't matter, because they have enough self control to instead fill a market need and say what the audience needs to hear. What they do or believe "off camera" is a whole 'nother thing. They understand that boundary.
I wish CEOs could have that kind of dynamicity and flexibility, and self control, rather than cornering themselves in these types of situations which erode trust and loyalty in the consumers' minds. Oh well.
I see many CEOs getting in trouble for expressing their personal opinions whenever prompted--or egged on--by press people and causing all sorts of consumer boycotts and market-share loss.
Taking anyone's words out of context is one of today's media's favorite thing to do to stir up the pot. So that should be considered a constant factor in marketing anymore. But how come we are now aghast at CEOs as spokespeople? Or maybe it's just me.
I grew up studying a type of journalism that said "stick to the facts" and "cover all the bases/opinions" and "be thorough." I also grew up studying a type of public relations that said "script your message" and "train your spokesperson" and "delight your customer." So whenever I see a catastrophic quote out there being made into a mountain out of a mole hill, and coming from a CEO no less--spokesperson #1 for any organization--I kinda wonder what set of factors topped along the way to cause so much along the way to go so wrong.
Did the media instigate the CEO's quote? You can probably bet on it. But shouldn't have the CEO's staff have trained their CEO better, especially on how to react to a variety of possible situations? Of course. So why did the CEO still embarrass himself/herself and their organization? Why couldn't they go along with the brand image and stay on message?
The specific examples that I always think of whenever I think about these types of CEO fiascos, or blow ups, are the Chick-Fil-A CEO's anti-gay quote and the Barrilla CEO's anti-gay-commercials quote.
The thing that really stunned me about the Barilla CEO quote is that there are just as many wonderful gay Italians and single parents in Italy, that I can't imagine where the CEO came up with that "traditional" family thing. I guess these "diverse" or "unusual" folks and single-heads-of-household will have to resort to shopping for their pasta from one of the hundreds of pastifici (artisanal, fresh pasta) shops. Which is probably better for them and the local economy anyway.
Part of the problem is that these CEOs don't have a healthy understanding of what private and public boundaries are. They are perfectly entitled to have conservative--some may even say provincial--views in a progressively diversifying marketplace. But when they bring up these conflicting views and decimate the consumer's expectations, it just plainly spells trouble. It erodes their and their company's stake in the marketplace.
And to be honest, when it comes to "anti-gay" CEO statements, I think these CEOs could benefit from some personal supression themselves and shut their mouths. Nowadays, the unspoken mandate is to capture and retain fleeting consumer attention spans, not make enemies and lose millions just to be "right." Being able to "far bella figura" or have a good image and match the consumer's expectations, is the goal of the game.
Have you noticed how, typically, those who are assigned "spin control" in these instances, are quick-to-market young professionals who have a knack for all the immediate marketing channels (like social media). They may be green, and not have a lot of business experience under their belts, but they can attack the problem with the tools at their disposal and help mitigate explosive situations in the market. Videos and social media messages are launched instantaneously to begin the PR cleanup after these catastrophic CEO spills.
What if these young professionals have the same views as their CEOs? It doesn't matter, because they have enough self control to instead fill a market need and say what the audience needs to hear. What they do or believe "off camera" is a whole 'nother thing. They understand that boundary.
I wish CEOs could have that kind of dynamicity and flexibility, and self control, rather than cornering themselves in these types of situations which erode trust and loyalty in the consumers' minds. Oh well.
11.13.2013
I Dreamt of Paris
I had I dream that I lived in Paris for about a month, spent my days and evenings in the company of a girl friend of mine who owned her own bistro, and experienced her misadventures and joined in some of my own.
I don't usually write about my dreams, but this one had a very vivid, movie-like quality. A short movie about the mis-adventures of a thirty-something expat bistro owner in Paris.
Now, the disclaimer here is that I am NOT one of those romantic, rose-colored-glasses kind of person infatuated with the city of Paris. I do like Art Nouveau and Art Deco however (examples), and the idea of a bistro on the water is charming.
So, my bistro owner friend, an old girl friend or co-worker, I don't remember. She was an entrepreneurial spirit, all action and well on top of all things and people that were trying their best to come undone. She had experience and skill in managing her Art Nouveau design bistro, creating and selecting the recipes, cooking, working with the cook and prep staff, and training the small staff of waiters to provide an amazing experience.
I had apparently been staying there a few days already for a visit that would last about a month. I typically sat at a corner table for two in the back corner, out of the way. If you've ever been to a bistro in Europe you know that a table for two is more like half a table for one. I spent my time writing ideas down in a notebook, surfing the Internet on my small laptop (did I buy a macbook air in my dream?), and enjoying the people-watching to be had both inside the bistro near dinner time and outside the windows facing the river. Yes this was a bistro on a tiny, packed-in corner of a river. The Seine? A canal?
I remember that there was a ton of art nouveau architectural details in the bistro and in the city in general. Lots to take in, which I liked.
There were a few steps leading down from the street to the front of the restaurant, but it wasn't a major throughway kind of street, more like a side street. There were a couple of bushes or potted bushes in a mini patio sort of area that could seat a couple of bistro guests on metal tables-for-two during warmer weather. The doors leading into the restaurant were opaque glass in various dark and opaque jewel tones (like purple and bottle green) with amazing, thick undulating wood frames in black, with those tell-tale curvy and meandering shapes that form art nouveau.
I was staying above a shop or home of some sort, in a tiny little room with the very basics. I think my friend had located that spot for me, as she dealt with the people who owned/lived/worked below me.
At some point there was a little bit of a drama featuring one of the someliers and a waitress at the bistro. I remember people were hating on the somelier as he had probably either broken a waitress' heart and/or gotten her pregnant, so she hadn't come to work for two or three days in a row. The somelier had an odd resemblance to Thomas from Downton Abbey. The bistro suddenly had to scramble due to too little wait staff on a busy evening. I gladly stepped in to help, by filling and refilling water glasses and taking dirty dishes away from tables.
I remember that at some point my friend either catered or had been called to a special event in a large, ornate ballroom. Very dark wood window frames, door frames, and thick, huge pillars, with a view over either a park or a residential area. Still very Art Nouveau. My friend suffered a crisis in confidence either because she saw an ex there or because things didn't go as smoothly as she would have liked. I thought everything went well though, from the guests' perspective and tried to reassure her. We got to sit in the kitchen at the chef's table and realized one of her friends/mentors/colleagues owned the place and was running things in the kitchen. We got to see how their dishes were put together by the cooks and staff prior to being sent out into the dining hall. All the while the three of us were sipping on either wine or water (in my case juice mixed with water) while listening to the owner/master chef tell us all about the business, the dishes, and how things worked.
After the event, to take a mental break, we went to a bench on an overlook with a great view of the finer apartment homes in the city. There was an ornate wavy baluster that didn't seem all that secure, and when we looked down we saw a lap pool. We joked that we could probably dive into it from where we were.
The dream ended as we headed back to my friend's bistro, well after hours, hung up our coats and sat down exhausted at a little table which faced the open-concept kitchen, to ponder our adventures as we absentmindedly rested our elbows on the table and our chins on our hands.
I don't usually write about my dreams, but this one had a very vivid, movie-like quality. A short movie about the mis-adventures of a thirty-something expat bistro owner in Paris.
Now, the disclaimer here is that I am NOT one of those romantic, rose-colored-glasses kind of person infatuated with the city of Paris. I do like Art Nouveau and Art Deco however (examples), and the idea of a bistro on the water is charming.
So, my bistro owner friend, an old girl friend or co-worker, I don't remember. She was an entrepreneurial spirit, all action and well on top of all things and people that were trying their best to come undone. She had experience and skill in managing her Art Nouveau design bistro, creating and selecting the recipes, cooking, working with the cook and prep staff, and training the small staff of waiters to provide an amazing experience.
I had apparently been staying there a few days already for a visit that would last about a month. I typically sat at a corner table for two in the back corner, out of the way. If you've ever been to a bistro in Europe you know that a table for two is more like half a table for one. I spent my time writing ideas down in a notebook, surfing the Internet on my small laptop (did I buy a macbook air in my dream?), and enjoying the people-watching to be had both inside the bistro near dinner time and outside the windows facing the river. Yes this was a bistro on a tiny, packed-in corner of a river. The Seine? A canal?
I remember that there was a ton of art nouveau architectural details in the bistro and in the city in general. Lots to take in, which I liked.
There were a few steps leading down from the street to the front of the restaurant, but it wasn't a major throughway kind of street, more like a side street. There were a couple of bushes or potted bushes in a mini patio sort of area that could seat a couple of bistro guests on metal tables-for-two during warmer weather. The doors leading into the restaurant were opaque glass in various dark and opaque jewel tones (like purple and bottle green) with amazing, thick undulating wood frames in black, with those tell-tale curvy and meandering shapes that form art nouveau.
I was staying above a shop or home of some sort, in a tiny little room with the very basics. I think my friend had located that spot for me, as she dealt with the people who owned/lived/worked below me.
At some point there was a little bit of a drama featuring one of the someliers and a waitress at the bistro. I remember people were hating on the somelier as he had probably either broken a waitress' heart and/or gotten her pregnant, so she hadn't come to work for two or three days in a row. The somelier had an odd resemblance to Thomas from Downton Abbey. The bistro suddenly had to scramble due to too little wait staff on a busy evening. I gladly stepped in to help, by filling and refilling water glasses and taking dirty dishes away from tables.
I remember that at some point my friend either catered or had been called to a special event in a large, ornate ballroom. Very dark wood window frames, door frames, and thick, huge pillars, with a view over either a park or a residential area. Still very Art Nouveau. My friend suffered a crisis in confidence either because she saw an ex there or because things didn't go as smoothly as she would have liked. I thought everything went well though, from the guests' perspective and tried to reassure her. We got to sit in the kitchen at the chef's table and realized one of her friends/mentors/colleagues owned the place and was running things in the kitchen. We got to see how their dishes were put together by the cooks and staff prior to being sent out into the dining hall. All the while the three of us were sipping on either wine or water (in my case juice mixed with water) while listening to the owner/master chef tell us all about the business, the dishes, and how things worked.
After the event, to take a mental break, we went to a bench on an overlook with a great view of the finer apartment homes in the city. There was an ornate wavy baluster that didn't seem all that secure, and when we looked down we saw a lap pool. We joked that we could probably dive into it from where we were.
The dream ended as we headed back to my friend's bistro, well after hours, hung up our coats and sat down exhausted at a little table which faced the open-concept kitchen, to ponder our adventures as we absentmindedly rested our elbows on the table and our chins on our hands.
10.21.2013
Can't Hardly Wait
I cannot wait till Thursday,
when I get to sleep in as long as I want.
That is my nirvana, my silver lining,
my light at the end of the tunnel.
My peace and prosperity, my inner om.
I cannot wait until Thursday.
PS - Can't Hardly Wait was a cool movie ;o)
when I get to sleep in as long as I want.
That is my nirvana, my silver lining,
my light at the end of the tunnel.
My peace and prosperity, my inner om.
I cannot wait until Thursday.
PS - Can't Hardly Wait was a cool movie ;o)
9.26.2013
Gelato, Turtles, and Ancho Chile Chocolate
There's a lovely, tiny little gelato and chocolate shop in downtown Lisle, Illinois that has captured a corner of my heart.
The lovely proprietor is always there, with a bright smile, and a quick, agile, hurried step taking care of each and every customer and making everyone feel special by taking a moment to chat a little.
The huge refrigerated case featuring a rainbow of spectacularly creamy gelato bowls as you walk in, shines in stainless steel and creamy goodness. If that's not a welcoming sight, I don't know what is.
Bacio, melon, mint, fior di latte, nutella, much and more are featured flavors but they change on each visit. I love seeing the European handwriting lovingly labeling each gelato bowl's label on hot neon color paper in clear plastic holders.
There are hot beverages as well. I always get an ancho chile hot chocolate on my visits, be it summer, fall, winter, or spring. There are a variety of hot chocolates and also a selection of espresso beverages.
A little glass dry-erase board announces some specials or just treats to entice customers: fizzy ice cream beverages, an affogato, an affogato with chocolate! There's something for young and old alike.
I always try to look for the candied orange peel dipped in dark chocolate, and their handmade turtles (six to a box for $3.95 each unless it's buy two get one free!).
The proprietor's hair today was very like my grandmother Wanda's used to be: grey with a touch of lavender, parted almost in the middle but mostly on the side, tucking the sides of her angled bob behind her ears with long hairpins. Freshly washed and fluffy.
Ahead of me was a mother and her Catholic school uniform clad daughter getting a cappuccino and a milkshake with whipped cream. Both mom and daughter opted for adult and kid versions of frothy specialties. They grabbed a table near the large window at the front.
Meanwhile, towards the back, there were two customers seated at the table chatting away. I peeked past them to the very back of the store, through a little tight corridor where I believe the restroom is located, to some space beyond that isn't being used. Perhaps it's opened up for special events like birthday parties and other special occasions which call for her famous chocolate fountain and dippable delicacies.
I come in the store, wait my turn, and every little thing I notice, such as how the "O" is shaped on the "Bacio" gelato label, transports me a little bit back to the Italian Riviera, and a small smile starts to emerge on my lips--as some happy memories of my maternal grandmother and my long-ago home flash through my mind.
The lovely proprietor is always there, with a bright smile, and a quick, agile, hurried step taking care of each and every customer and making everyone feel special by taking a moment to chat a little.
The huge refrigerated case featuring a rainbow of spectacularly creamy gelato bowls as you walk in, shines in stainless steel and creamy goodness. If that's not a welcoming sight, I don't know what is.
Bacio, melon, mint, fior di latte, nutella, much and more are featured flavors but they change on each visit. I love seeing the European handwriting lovingly labeling each gelato bowl's label on hot neon color paper in clear plastic holders.
There are hot beverages as well. I always get an ancho chile hot chocolate on my visits, be it summer, fall, winter, or spring. There are a variety of hot chocolates and also a selection of espresso beverages.
A little glass dry-erase board announces some specials or just treats to entice customers: fizzy ice cream beverages, an affogato, an affogato with chocolate! There's something for young and old alike.
I always try to look for the candied orange peel dipped in dark chocolate, and their handmade turtles (six to a box for $3.95 each unless it's buy two get one free!).
The proprietor's hair today was very like my grandmother Wanda's used to be: grey with a touch of lavender, parted almost in the middle but mostly on the side, tucking the sides of her angled bob behind her ears with long hairpins. Freshly washed and fluffy.
Ahead of me was a mother and her Catholic school uniform clad daughter getting a cappuccino and a milkshake with whipped cream. Both mom and daughter opted for adult and kid versions of frothy specialties. They grabbed a table near the large window at the front.
Meanwhile, towards the back, there were two customers seated at the table chatting away. I peeked past them to the very back of the store, through a little tight corridor where I believe the restroom is located, to some space beyond that isn't being used. Perhaps it's opened up for special events like birthday parties and other special occasions which call for her famous chocolate fountain and dippable delicacies.
I come in the store, wait my turn, and every little thing I notice, such as how the "O" is shaped on the "Bacio" gelato label, transports me a little bit back to the Italian Riviera, and a small smile starts to emerge on my lips--as some happy memories of my maternal grandmother and my long-ago home flash through my mind.
4.01.2013
Blog Post Roundup
Here's a brief rundown of what I've been posting on my other blogs lately:
Foodie Blog
Foodie Blog
- Easter Lamb Dinner
- White Fish Tacos
- Quick Winter Breakfast Options
- Spicy Green Smoothie
- Red Scallops and Rice
Beauty and Health Blog
- March Favorites
- Favorite Damaged Hair Care Products
- On a Rose Scented Kick
- Good Buy: Crepe Blouse
- Spring's New Arrivals
- Spring Wardrobe Cleanup and Rant
Interwebs and Computing
Automotive
2.28.2013
A Note on Satiety and Self Care
Last night's restorative/gentle yoga class featured a theme revolving on self-care. We don't think twice when doing things to care for a small baby, and yet we suffer through cram-packed schedules, bad food choices, and hours of commuting without (almost) blinking an eye. Why do we do these things to ourselves? Are we taking good enough care of ourselves as our official, sole caretakers?
This premise really made me stop and think. Self care is a strong current this year for me. So have I been making enough of an effort to meet my new year's resolution of structuring my day and incorporating new, positive habits? Maybe.
One good thing I've done is organized myself on Sundays (well, most of the time) so I can prepare breakfast smoothies and oatmeal for the week ahead, stored in my favorite mason jars. Comforting, nutritious, and filling food choices that help me kick start my workday, create a routine to establish a comfort level, and provide enough energy to motor through most of my day.
One downfall, that has sneaked back in without my realizing it, is that I've started treating myself again to, often sweetened, coffee beverages. Caffeine, especially in the form of coffee beverages (worse if sweetened) are actually a no-no because it sets up my system for a cycle of highs and lows that exhaust me. As an example, yesterday I had a sweetened espresso beverage, an extremely small one at that, and experienced increased energy, enthusiasm, joy, impatience, irritability, depression, and tears within the span of about two hours prior to my yoga class. That's a bit much, yes? Even if the excuse I'm using is to try to keep a new favorite coffee shop in business, those little caffeinated emotional bombs really need to stop. By stepping back, observing, and making mental notes I can do right by my body...and my wallet!
One of my favorite blogs, The Actor's Diet, is by an Asian-American actress, Lynn Chen, in California who also experiences self-care issues relating to mood, energy-level, and food choices. She recently lost her father, so she's also been discussing loss and recovery--something I've been experiencing since both my grandmothers passed away in 2011. Lynn is an ambassador for National Eating Disorders Association and posts about her challenges on the Thick Dumpling Skin blog. She's a fascinating and inspiring woman and I am so happy I discovered her blog(s) last year.
One thing that I've been meditating on often is what does satiety mean to me? So, in essence, what I'm really asking myself is why does the empty space, a pause in my schedule, or brief distraction become stressful to manage? I strongly believe that we can all retrain ourselves to be satisfied/satiated by the emptiness and lull that occasionally comes our way--it's tricky to learn to enjoy it, but doable!
The feeling of not having to do/say/behave a particular way can become anxiety-causing when we're so used to doing things a specific way--most of the time because we believe others expect it of us, when in reality it's just a choice we make. The space and emptiness that come from not having too many activities and noise, lets our heart rate slow down, our breathing deepen in our chest, and our posture to relax. Our head stops swimming/spinning with details, reminders, and foreshadowing a next potential crisis.
It's tricky learning what sets one off or replenishes, when we're really going after the golden apple in someone else's rat race. Learning to heed the cues, and making enough space to enjoy the...well, space, is vitally important for our well being.
The space inside our minds, our bodies, and in our day create a lovely little buffer--not unlike a warm comforting blanket. Isn't it? Let's strive to reach for this blanket more often, when the next opportunity arises.
Remember to treat yourself like the most delicate, priceless possession because that's what you are.
This premise really made me stop and think. Self care is a strong current this year for me. So have I been making enough of an effort to meet my new year's resolution of structuring my day and incorporating new, positive habits? Maybe.
One good thing I've done is organized myself on Sundays (well, most of the time) so I can prepare breakfast smoothies and oatmeal for the week ahead, stored in my favorite mason jars. Comforting, nutritious, and filling food choices that help me kick start my workday, create a routine to establish a comfort level, and provide enough energy to motor through most of my day.
One downfall, that has sneaked back in without my realizing it, is that I've started treating myself again to, often sweetened, coffee beverages. Caffeine, especially in the form of coffee beverages (worse if sweetened) are actually a no-no because it sets up my system for a cycle of highs and lows that exhaust me. As an example, yesterday I had a sweetened espresso beverage, an extremely small one at that, and experienced increased energy, enthusiasm, joy, impatience, irritability, depression, and tears within the span of about two hours prior to my yoga class. That's a bit much, yes? Even if the excuse I'm using is to try to keep a new favorite coffee shop in business, those little caffeinated emotional bombs really need to stop. By stepping back, observing, and making mental notes I can do right by my body...and my wallet!
One of my favorite blogs, The Actor's Diet, is by an Asian-American actress, Lynn Chen, in California who also experiences self-care issues relating to mood, energy-level, and food choices. She recently lost her father, so she's also been discussing loss and recovery--something I've been experiencing since both my grandmothers passed away in 2011. Lynn is an ambassador for National Eating Disorders Association and posts about her challenges on the Thick Dumpling Skin blog. She's a fascinating and inspiring woman and I am so happy I discovered her blog(s) last year.
One thing that I've been meditating on often is what does satiety mean to me? So, in essence, what I'm really asking myself is why does the empty space, a pause in my schedule, or brief distraction become stressful to manage? I strongly believe that we can all retrain ourselves to be satisfied/satiated by the emptiness and lull that occasionally comes our way--it's tricky to learn to enjoy it, but doable!
The feeling of not having to do/say/behave a particular way can become anxiety-causing when we're so used to doing things a specific way--most of the time because we believe others expect it of us, when in reality it's just a choice we make. The space and emptiness that come from not having too many activities and noise, lets our heart rate slow down, our breathing deepen in our chest, and our posture to relax. Our head stops swimming/spinning with details, reminders, and foreshadowing a next potential crisis.
It's tricky learning what sets one off or replenishes, when we're really going after the golden apple in someone else's rat race. Learning to heed the cues, and making enough space to enjoy the...well, space, is vitally important for our well being.
The space inside our minds, our bodies, and in our day create a lovely little buffer--not unlike a warm comforting blanket. Isn't it? Let's strive to reach for this blanket more often, when the next opportunity arises.
Remember to treat yourself like the most delicate, priceless possession because that's what you are.
2.24.2013
Discover: More Polish Pottery
I became acquainted with More Polish Pottery a few months ago and have been following their Facebook page ever since. They import Polish, high-quality ceramic wares featuring a traditional, hand-painted blue and white patterns with added splashes of color. The ceramic is sturdy (freezer, dishwasher, and oven safe) without being overly heavy to handle.
I finally took a drive over to their shop in Big Rock, Illinois, today. Big Rock is about 25 minutes Northwest of Oswego, Illinois and five minutes West of Sugar Grove, Illinois. After a leisurely drive through rolling country roads on an unseasonally (but welcome!) warm and sunny Sunday, we arrived at the farm and shop.
We got to meet the owner and founder Rebecca Gengler right away. Rebecca welcomed us, walked us over to her showroom, and offered a small tour and introduction to Polish pottery. She also offered to show us around the greenhouse that serves as warehouse.
The showroom is in the throes of expansion as the business grows, and currently offers a well-stocked room full and a half of every type, shape, and size of Polish pottery goodness for your kitchen, cooking, and serveware needs.
When you turn over a piece of pottery you will be able to identify three main pieces of information on the bottom: the ink stamp with manufacturer and place of manufacture, a label with the full address and information for the manufacturer, information identifying More Polish Pottery as the importer, and a bar code for the price.
I treated myself to the peach blossom small cup (perfect size for Keurig machines, says Rebecca), teaspoon, butter knife, and then found a lovely yellow and blue patterned teabag dish as well.
More Polish Pottery came to be as Rebecca and her husband, who resided in Germany for some time, used to travel to Poland often, enjoying some of their ceramic serveware souvenirs to entertain at home. After many positive comments and her own growing interest in educating others about the virtues of Polish pottery, Rebecca decided to open her own company upon their return to the States.
Polish pottery is said to be non-stick and resilient to cracks, chips, and stains. These days, as we're concerned about what we use to cook our food (such as teflon and plastics), I think that ceramic bakeware is an excellent alternative. Each piece is different and unique, the pattern is a sponge/hand-stamp design that adds a unique charm and beauty. The items Rebecca carries in her shop are produced by Ceramika Artystyczna in Boleslawiec, Poland. She provided me a company information postcard and her business card as she was packing up my goodies.
Rebecca loves to offer educational events, including private group presentations about polish pottery or her startup experience, and is also open to wholesale opportunities.
If you are in the area and collect/enjoy hand made unique pottery and ceramics for your kitchen, it's well worth your time to check out More Polish Pottery. I'm sure glad we stopped by!
I finally took a drive over to their shop in Big Rock, Illinois, today. Big Rock is about 25 minutes Northwest of Oswego, Illinois and five minutes West of Sugar Grove, Illinois. After a leisurely drive through rolling country roads on an unseasonally (but welcome!) warm and sunny Sunday, we arrived at the farm and shop.
We got to meet the owner and founder Rebecca Gengler right away. Rebecca welcomed us, walked us over to her showroom, and offered a small tour and introduction to Polish pottery. She also offered to show us around the greenhouse that serves as warehouse.
The showroom is in the throes of expansion as the business grows, and currently offers a well-stocked room full and a half of every type, shape, and size of Polish pottery goodness for your kitchen, cooking, and serveware needs.
 |
| my new pieces from More Polish Pottery |
I treated myself to the peach blossom small cup (perfect size for Keurig machines, says Rebecca), teaspoon, butter knife, and then found a lovely yellow and blue patterned teabag dish as well.
More Polish Pottery came to be as Rebecca and her husband, who resided in Germany for some time, used to travel to Poland often, enjoying some of their ceramic serveware souvenirs to entertain at home. After many positive comments and her own growing interest in educating others about the virtues of Polish pottery, Rebecca decided to open her own company upon their return to the States.
Polish pottery is said to be non-stick and resilient to cracks, chips, and stains. These days, as we're concerned about what we use to cook our food (such as teflon and plastics), I think that ceramic bakeware is an excellent alternative. Each piece is different and unique, the pattern is a sponge/hand-stamp design that adds a unique charm and beauty. The items Rebecca carries in her shop are produced by Ceramika Artystyczna in Boleslawiec, Poland. She provided me a company information postcard and her business card as she was packing up my goodies.
Rebecca loves to offer educational events, including private group presentations about polish pottery or her startup experience, and is also open to wholesale opportunities.
If you are in the area and collect/enjoy hand made unique pottery and ceramics for your kitchen, it's well worth your time to check out More Polish Pottery. I'm sure glad we stopped by!
2.20.2013
Not Talented? Then Represent
You read that right!: Not Talented? Not Gifted? So Represent Those Who Are says Thomas J. Stanley. And I concur!
Doesn't that title make you think, almost straight away, of Tom Cruise screaming: Show Me The Money! to Cuba Gooding Jr.? I immediately thought about that scene, although I've never watched Jerry Maguire. In that scene, Tom C., was showing Cuba G., his sports star client, in a no-holds-barred-way just how passionate, how in his corner he really was in order to retain his business.
So, where am I going with this? Have you ever felt a strong passion towards a particular hobby, career, lifestyle, or vocation and known full well that there was just no way you could make it work? You have a strong interest, even a passion, but not the means to make it a reality. So what do you do then? You don't want to be left in the sidelines, so you represent or enable, somehow, those who successfully pursue that passion. That's a way to make a difference.
I've often joked to my mom that I'm not a great writer, I'm an amazing editor. Yet, if you ask me what a compound predicate is, I would look at you like a deer in the headlights. In my job as an editorial production staffer, at a professional association, I edit weekly many thousands of words. I certainly know when a word or comma is out of place, and how to format a paper so it matches our company's standards or style sheet. However, I have never worked for a publisher, nor have I attended trade conventions where editing and grammar are analyzed in detail and can be part of inside jokes.
I was never the grammar nazi/teacher's pet in English class--you know, the girl that everyone rolled their eyes at when she had her hand eagerly raised trying to be the first to answer that impossible compound adverb question the teacher threw out to the class. What I did develop, through many an English/grammar and translation class was a sense for what looks and is correct on a written page. There is a right way the author's tone, sense, and the content can be communicated.
I'm a passionate reader, and I enjoy reading millions upon millions of words a week. I enjoy reading for pleasure, for knowledge, and for my work. That's why typos and mis-spellings drive me crazy (especially when I'm writing) when I read material. I want to correct those typos immediately so to remove the "mark" on the page and on the author, that those small mistakes can cause. But reading for editing is like peeling an onion, there are so many layers. You could keep reading and keep finding things to fix.
I see many talented, highly-educated professionals and academics trying to put together their thoughts in inefficient ways, and, it makes me want to run to them with a pencil in hand to help correct that phrase that's just not coming out right. Help fix that paragraph, which is a five line run-on. Or tackle that white paper that has no organization or headings. Or uses footnotes instead of endnotes!
I want to help these folks, because they're really good at what they research, study, and communicate but they need just a little extra oomph to allow their words to be all that they can be. I want them to look good.
So, in my own way, I'm "representing" those talented researchers and subject matter experts, who struggle with their sentence structure, by helping them express their written voice to its full extent.
As an editor, especially at a small company, you're not likely to get fame and fortune, your name is not likely to be on the lips of all your co-workers and superiors, and you're not likely to get an employee of the month plaque/star/etc., but you are definitely the person who gets the odd phone call to ask how to best phrase something, what's the best word to use in a sentence, and what's a good word to mean so-and-so. Sometimes, I even get the calls to find out if the meaning of a phrase is clear and straight forward enough, in English, so that an English-as-a-second-language speaker can still understand it--bonus points if you know a different language.
The role I play is a behind-the-scenes role that hasn't gotten me much acknowledgement, professional prestige, or more dollar bills. But it's definitely the role that I wouldn't trade for anything. I enjoy reading a variety of written works and not having to specialize in a particular type of product (say, children's fiction magazines, or dessert cookbooks) and getting to meet and work with (sometimes only via email or over the phone) authors from across the globe. Sometimes, I get to meet these authors in person each year when I work at the annual conference. Those are neat, full-circle encounters.
Today, I discovered a great grammar website that helps me refresh some of the grammar rules and terminology I learned in school years ago. I like to be able to back my knowledge with more than a "it just reads right this way" and instead have facts, terminology, and rules that others before me created for consistency. I usually have a terrible mind for recalling all these technicalities, even though I follow them to the letter every day. Being able to succeed in this area helps me feel like I can really make a difference with every word I read and edit.
I like helping people and editing publications and written communications for a professional association helps me do just that, just on a little bit of my own terms. Kinda.
Doesn't that title make you think, almost straight away, of Tom Cruise screaming: Show Me The Money! to Cuba Gooding Jr.? I immediately thought about that scene, although I've never watched Jerry Maguire. In that scene, Tom C., was showing Cuba G., his sports star client, in a no-holds-barred-way just how passionate, how in his corner he really was in order to retain his business.
So, where am I going with this? Have you ever felt a strong passion towards a particular hobby, career, lifestyle, or vocation and known full well that there was just no way you could make it work? You have a strong interest, even a passion, but not the means to make it a reality. So what do you do then? You don't want to be left in the sidelines, so you represent or enable, somehow, those who successfully pursue that passion. That's a way to make a difference.
I've often joked to my mom that I'm not a great writer, I'm an amazing editor. Yet, if you ask me what a compound predicate is, I would look at you like a deer in the headlights. In my job as an editorial production staffer, at a professional association, I edit weekly many thousands of words. I certainly know when a word or comma is out of place, and how to format a paper so it matches our company's standards or style sheet. However, I have never worked for a publisher, nor have I attended trade conventions where editing and grammar are analyzed in detail and can be part of inside jokes.
I was never the grammar nazi/teacher's pet in English class--you know, the girl that everyone rolled their eyes at when she had her hand eagerly raised trying to be the first to answer that impossible compound adverb question the teacher threw out to the class. What I did develop, through many an English/grammar and translation class was a sense for what looks and is correct on a written page. There is a right way the author's tone, sense, and the content can be communicated.
I'm a passionate reader, and I enjoy reading millions upon millions of words a week. I enjoy reading for pleasure, for knowledge, and for my work. That's why typos and mis-spellings drive me crazy (especially when I'm writing) when I read material. I want to correct those typos immediately so to remove the "mark" on the page and on the author, that those small mistakes can cause. But reading for editing is like peeling an onion, there are so many layers. You could keep reading and keep finding things to fix.
I see many talented, highly-educated professionals and academics trying to put together their thoughts in inefficient ways, and, it makes me want to run to them with a pencil in hand to help correct that phrase that's just not coming out right. Help fix that paragraph, which is a five line run-on. Or tackle that white paper that has no organization or headings. Or uses footnotes instead of endnotes!
I want to help these folks, because they're really good at what they research, study, and communicate but they need just a little extra oomph to allow their words to be all that they can be. I want them to look good.
So, in my own way, I'm "representing" those talented researchers and subject matter experts, who struggle with their sentence structure, by helping them express their written voice to its full extent.
As an editor, especially at a small company, you're not likely to get fame and fortune, your name is not likely to be on the lips of all your co-workers and superiors, and you're not likely to get an employee of the month plaque/star/etc., but you are definitely the person who gets the odd phone call to ask how to best phrase something, what's the best word to use in a sentence, and what's a good word to mean so-and-so. Sometimes, I even get the calls to find out if the meaning of a phrase is clear and straight forward enough, in English, so that an English-as-a-second-language speaker can still understand it--bonus points if you know a different language.
The role I play is a behind-the-scenes role that hasn't gotten me much acknowledgement, professional prestige, or more dollar bills. But it's definitely the role that I wouldn't trade for anything. I enjoy reading a variety of written works and not having to specialize in a particular type of product (say, children's fiction magazines, or dessert cookbooks) and getting to meet and work with (sometimes only via email or over the phone) authors from across the globe. Sometimes, I get to meet these authors in person each year when I work at the annual conference. Those are neat, full-circle encounters.
Today, I discovered a great grammar website that helps me refresh some of the grammar rules and terminology I learned in school years ago. I like to be able to back my knowledge with more than a "it just reads right this way" and instead have facts, terminology, and rules that others before me created for consistency. I usually have a terrible mind for recalling all these technicalities, even though I follow them to the letter every day. Being able to succeed in this area helps me feel like I can really make a difference with every word I read and edit.
I like helping people and editing publications and written communications for a professional association helps me do just that, just on a little bit of my own terms. Kinda.
2.12.2013
A Note on Journaling
I began a journaling practice back in May of 2012. I've sucked at making it a daily practice. Instead, I've made it a sporadic practice.
I promised myself three pages per day. Some days I wish I could keep going. Some days, I have to struggle to find something to write.
The point of journaling for me is to take down those thoughts that circle my mind like gnats. Taking them down into paper makes them solid so I can't escape them, so they're not as slippery. So I can see these thoughts down on paper and I can identify more easily patterns, concerns, fears and then I can reframe them, approach them, or resolve them.
But it's the days when I don't journal that trouble me a little. There are a variety of things that hold me back from making it a daily practice.
Sometimes I'm very angry. Angry at myself, angry at others, angry at situations I feel I don't have influence on.
Sometimes I don't have the energy. I feel fatigued, exhausted, sleepy, needing to vegetate.
Sometimes I'm depressed. I think about the past, I think about bad things that have happened, about scares, about medical conditions and emergencies. I kind of sit there not really looking, thinking deeply inside myself. In the shadows.
Sometimes I know exactly what I'm going to write...but then I forget when I get pen to paper.
Sometimes I have too much going on in my mind, and I know that three pages won't be enough.
Sometimes I confuse my blog with my journal, and write on here things I really shouldn't.
I've decided I'm going to forgive the lapses because, sometimes, the absence of something is as important as its presence. The heart grows fonder. I get to think on things a little more before firming them up onto paper.
I rarely go and read what I wrote. Those words and thoughts still exist inside of me, perhaps less important than the day I thought about them for minutes--or hours--and then decided to write them down.
I like the feeling of more space in my mind when these little balloons that flutter about are grabbed, pulled down, and stuck onto the pages of my journal.
I promised myself three pages per day. Some days I wish I could keep going. Some days, I have to struggle to find something to write.
The point of journaling for me is to take down those thoughts that circle my mind like gnats. Taking them down into paper makes them solid so I can't escape them, so they're not as slippery. So I can see these thoughts down on paper and I can identify more easily patterns, concerns, fears and then I can reframe them, approach them, or resolve them.
But it's the days when I don't journal that trouble me a little. There are a variety of things that hold me back from making it a daily practice.
Sometimes I'm very angry. Angry at myself, angry at others, angry at situations I feel I don't have influence on.
Sometimes I don't have the energy. I feel fatigued, exhausted, sleepy, needing to vegetate.
Sometimes I'm depressed. I think about the past, I think about bad things that have happened, about scares, about medical conditions and emergencies. I kind of sit there not really looking, thinking deeply inside myself. In the shadows.
Sometimes I know exactly what I'm going to write...but then I forget when I get pen to paper.
Sometimes I have too much going on in my mind, and I know that three pages won't be enough.
Sometimes I confuse my blog with my journal, and write on here things I really shouldn't.
I've decided I'm going to forgive the lapses because, sometimes, the absence of something is as important as its presence. The heart grows fonder. I get to think on things a little more before firming them up onto paper.
I rarely go and read what I wrote. Those words and thoughts still exist inside of me, perhaps less important than the day I thought about them for minutes--or hours--and then decided to write them down.
I like the feeling of more space in my mind when these little balloons that flutter about are grabbed, pulled down, and stuck onto the pages of my journal.
12.11.2012
Journaling and Artist Dates
Back in June, when I read The Artist's Way, I became impressed with Julia Cameron's concept of daily journal writing and developing a periodical practice of artist dates.
Sometimes, there just isn't someone available to vent in a safe manner about something that is troubling us. By writing things out as we feel them, or remember them, daily in a journal, we are able to have an honest conversation with ourselves. What made us feel bad and why? How did we handle a bad situation? How would we have handled it differently? What patterns do we see? How can we make a small change? We may see patterns or find peace as soon as we write things down, or as we re-read them later.
I haven't been able to make this a daily practice, but the couple of times a week I'm able to make a difference.
Artist dates are also a great option for those of us having to spend a lot of time on our own. Rather than worry about oging out and doing something we'd enjoy, we just go and do it as part of our practice of doing something nourishing spiritually and intellectually. A sort of disciplined fearlessness practice that I actually need more of.
I always take note of interesting things to do in my area, paid or unpaid, to potentially do on my own or with the significant-other unit. Since his work schedule has been very long and erratic lately, I really need to get back into the practice of my artist dates. I don't really remember when my last artist date was, so I had to look up photos I took that day on my Flickr account. It was all the way back in September! Definitely time for more and soon.
Having a disciplined schedule and set times to do things on my own helps me feel refreshed and energized without that tense, hectic feeling that I pretty much feel the rest of the time. Even a movie theater night by myself during the week can do wonders.
Sometimes, there just isn't someone available to vent in a safe manner about something that is troubling us. By writing things out as we feel them, or remember them, daily in a journal, we are able to have an honest conversation with ourselves. What made us feel bad and why? How did we handle a bad situation? How would we have handled it differently? What patterns do we see? How can we make a small change? We may see patterns or find peace as soon as we write things down, or as we re-read them later.
I haven't been able to make this a daily practice, but the couple of times a week I'm able to make a difference.
Artist dates are also a great option for those of us having to spend a lot of time on our own. Rather than worry about oging out and doing something we'd enjoy, we just go and do it as part of our practice of doing something nourishing spiritually and intellectually. A sort of disciplined fearlessness practice that I actually need more of.
I always take note of interesting things to do in my area, paid or unpaid, to potentially do on my own or with the significant-other unit. Since his work schedule has been very long and erratic lately, I really need to get back into the practice of my artist dates. I don't really remember when my last artist date was, so I had to look up photos I took that day on my Flickr account. It was all the way back in September! Definitely time for more and soon.
Having a disciplined schedule and set times to do things on my own helps me feel refreshed and energized without that tense, hectic feeling that I pretty much feel the rest of the time. Even a movie theater night by myself during the week can do wonders.
12.07.2012
Blog Post Roundup
I haven't done a roundup in a while, so here we go. A list of recent posts on my other blogs:
Beauty Essentials Blog
Beauty Essentials Blog
- Caramel and Cream Workday
- Bath Time Favorites
- Camel and Blue
- Discontinued Products: Mascara
- Orange and Teal Casual Friday
- Favorite Autumn Products
- A Note on Honeys
- Mince Pie
- Bon Appetit Magazine Favorite Products
- Flying Dog Brewery
- Adult Hot Chocolate
- Advert Typo at The New York Times
- Quote of the Day by Susan Sontag
- Quote of the Day by Mortimer Adler
- Quote of the Day by Stanley Fish
- Writing Tips from David Ogilvy
Automotive Blog
- 2014 Nissan GT-R
- Recall: 2.77 million Toyotas Worldwide
- Suzuki Quits US Market
- Hyundai, Kia Retract Mileage Claims
- 2012 SEMA Show
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)