Friday, December 30, 2011
My Year in Numbers--2011
Nah, probably not.
Books read: 29
Movies seen in the theater: 26
Movies watched for the first time on DVD or cable: 23
Bloggers I hung out with in real life: 9
States visited: 3
Rock climbing adventures that ended with trips to the ER: 1
Bones broken: 1
Surgeries and Surgical Procedures: 2
Doctors visited: 6
Physical Therapists: 2
Casts and Braces: 5
Itchy diseases that required medication: 1
Visits to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions: 12
Baby Showers I helped plan: 5
Times I burned, cut or otherwise injured myself during the course of baby showers: 2
Live stage performances watched: 3
Live stage performances I wished I could have gone to: 7
Heart-breaking moments that made me question my efforts in one specific area over the last four years: 1
Voodoo dolls I considered making: 3
Voodoo dolls I made: 0
Job applications submitted: 26
Job interviews: 2
5Ks attempted: 1
Miles run at the gym: dozens
Times I ate ice cream for dinner: 1948520
It was a weird year. It wasn't completely terrible. There were some good times. But I sort of feel like I lost a lot of time that I just can't get back. And this year I really learned the meaning of physical pain. I know there are plenty of people that have it worse than me. Obviously. But this experience definitely taught me empathy. And the value of good medical care and good drugs. And some patience, too.
I hope we all have a happy and healthy 2012 and that good things are coming our way. I know I could use it and I'm sure you could, too.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
You're the Tops--2011
These are some interesting factoids and some linky love to some of you who have kept me going this year. With many thanks and much love.
Top Site Referrals:
Aaron & Rachel
Aaron & Marly
Namaste By Day
Single Dad Laughing
Dennis & Roberta
Top Search Terms:
A Peek at Karen's World
Single Infertile Female
Single Dad Laughing
Susan B. Anthony
Paintballing
Top Commenters:
So Cal Gal
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Kristina P.
Charlotte
Katherine
Top Twitter Followers:
@ShortysSutures
@JenniferHillier
@notsosingle
@allthelilstuff
@namastebyday
I was going to include my Facebook followers, but I've pretty much sucked at keeping my page updated.
Anyway, thank you all so much for being awesome. For visiting and reading and for being there. It's been a tough year for many of us, but we survived and I know I, for one, have many of you to thank for that!
Here's to a great 2012!
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
My Year in Status--2011
I present to you some of my favorites.
This is by no means a comprehensive list. One thing I learned while doing this is that I spend way too much time on Facebook.
(Sorry about numbered lists, by the way. Apparently Blogger hates bullets. Or me. Or probably both.)
January
- I love when I guess the Final Jeopardy question before they even reveal the answer.
- There is a spider crawling on my ceiling. It's freaking me out.
- I know a lot of really funny people. It makes me happy.
- It was the PERFECT day for a hike. Pictures to follow.
- I love when I do something that reminds me of my ability to be brilliant. And also humble...
- You know how sometimes people think they're helping a situation but they end up just making it worse?
February
- After more than half an hour fighting with a very uncooperative tire jack, I have given up and am now on hold with Hyundai Roadside Assistance. The hold music is so bad I want to gouge my ears out with this stupid jack.
- I'm headed out of town for the weekend with a good friend. Looking forward to some quality girl talk!
- It is so ridiculously, wonderfully warm on the Central Coast today. *checks calendar to make sure it's still February.*
- I love Colin Firth. I loved The King's Speech. But I think James Franco deserves the Oscar for playing Aron Ralston in 127 Hours. Wow.
- Help. I'm a prisoner at the DMV.
- I need a cat. I will name her Emily Dickinson.
- I just finished watching The Social Network. It wasn't bad, but I honestly don't see what all the fuss is about.
- It was a dark and stormy afternoon.
- Dear Honda Center: Please quit tormenting me with your ads for the NKOTBSB concert coming in July. Don't you know I'm poor??
- I ran a whole mile without stopping. And I didn't even die.
- The older I get the more disappointed I am by people in general.
- I would like to thank everyone for the birthday wishes! I have awesome family and friends. I would also like to thank the Academy for helping to make my birthday so special and for giving the Best Picture award to The King's Speech. I would have been beyond thrilled if it had been the year's actual best film, Inception, but The King's Speech was darned good, too.
March
- And then it hit me. Holy crap, I'm running a 5K tomorrow. Yikes.
- I totally did a 5K today.
- I was trying to figure out what this rattling sound was. Took awhile to realize it was my congested breathing.
- Is anyone else watching this tsunami in Japan?
- To everyone who told me to check out Mumford & Sons, all I can say is: Thank you!!
- I will not watch Glee. I will not watch Glee. I will not watch Glee.
- I've decided the trainer at the gym was possessed by the devil when he created our new workout routine.
- It frustrated me that the only word I could come up with was "hate." Then it occurred to me that "despise" is more accurate.
- It is with deepest sadness that I announce the unexpected passing of my beloved Droid 2.
April
- Ok, everyone, last night's hospital check-in was not a late night April Fool's joke. I did, in fact, break my wrist last night at the end of our rock climbing adventure. Details coming to my blog on Monday. If I start typing now I might finish by then. The good news? It's my right wrist and I'm left handed. The bad news? My car is a stick shift.
- Correction: According to Amber, my wrist is not broken. My arm is.
- When I do stuff I do it good. My radius is very broken and surgery is likely.
- The existence of chocolate is proof my Heavenly Father loves me.
- Okay, everyone, I am having very MINOR outpatient surgery tomorrow morning at 10:30. I'll be getting a metal plate and an awesome scar.
- Five attempts and the IV is in my foot. Feeling pretty good cuz the anesthesiologist started a mild sedative. I think I like it.
- Out of surgery. Survived just fine but woke up in the worst pain EVER. Mom's taking care of me. She's the best.
- 4 free tickets to tonight's game+free parking=1 very happy Angels fan.
- Dear Michael Scott: After 7 years of making me laugh, tonight you made me cry. The Office won't be the same without you. Thanks for the memories!
- So...Dr. Who...I don't even know what I don't know.
May
- I am in shock. In a good way.
- My right arm doesn't turn out. It feels like it was put back together backwards.
- "Exsanguinated" is kind of a cool word, but creepy when you're reading a report that's about yourself.
- Back to work today. So far, so good.
- Apparently my arm only turns to a negative degree. And you all laughed at me when I said my arm was backward...
- Made Mother's Day dinner for my mama, followed by a movie. What did she pick? Zombieland. I love my mom. ;-)
- I got to hold the most perfect, beautiful newborn girl tonight. Congratulations again, Brian and Shawna!
- I just introduced the Mary Kay girl to Sephora.
- Bliss is suddenly remembering that you hid one last package of Girl Scout cookies.
- I still have a lot of pain in my wrist, but htis week I have regained the abilities to use scissors and tie my shoes. Yippee. I'm 6 again.
- Thoughts and prayers going to Missouri. Scary times, but thankfully the Missouri branch of the fam is okay.
June
- My little sister is graduating from high school today. I was in high school when she was born. This is weird.
- My therapist just broke up with me.
- Two trips to the OR, two casts, a brace, two dozen x-rays, 10 physical therapy sessions and next a possible visit to the dermatologist to fix the scar... I could plan a pretty fance wedding for less money than Marly's rock climbing birthday party end up costing. I'm SO thankful for insurance!
- I met up with a great writers' group today. It was a lot of fun. I forget how much I missed that kind of thing.
- I LOVE my friends! I'm SO EXCITED for good news! But if I hear one more baby announcement this week, I'm throwing myself into oncoming traffic.
- When you're recovering from a (minor) surgical procedure, does a trip to Cold Stone count as a want or a need?
July
- I'm defriending the next person that passes around that fake message that Facebook is going to start charging this summer.
- "If you can't do the time, do the crime in Florida."
- Wow. I totally forgot to watch the All Star Game tonight. Seriously, I think when I broke my arm, I broke my brain too.
- I should probably get to bed at a more reasonable hour. I fell asleep today at Physical Therapy...
- There is a bird that has been chirping the same note over and over for at least an hour. Right outside my window. I'm not-so-slowly going insane.
August
- I'm thankful for competent people who do their jobs.
- It's weird how I was so excited to leave Utah four years ago. Now I'm not sure why.
- Only in Utah can someone make a joke about the Liahona and everyone gets it.
- I'm scared to see the photos...but I think Auntie Karen is the best Bouncy Castle Monster EVER.
- I don't know why people say cortisone injections hurt. I barely felt anyth--MOTHER OF PEARL!! WHY IS MY ARM ON FIRE??
- I was tutoring a French 101 student today and he said I should be teaching French. I could hear Dr. Godfrey laughing all the way from Utah.
- After 5 months, I've been released by the orthopedic surgeon. I never thought this day would come.
September
- Okay, I'm more than a little concerned that someone accessed my blog through a porn site...
- Barely a 4-pointer. That's practically not even an earthquake.
- Dear Facebook: Normally I don't love your changes, but I get used to them. This time? PUT IT BACK THE WAY IT WAS!!!!
- With these new blue-tabbed posts in the news feed, I must say I am shocked at how bad Facebook is at guessing what interests me.
- And with that, the playoffs are out of reach.
- Since I don't speak fluent Starbucksese, how was I to know that "Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate" actually translates to "Caffe Mocha hold the whipped cream"?
October
- So I rolled over in bed last night and smacked my face against the wall. Two weeks ago, I caught the corner of my nightstand with my eye. Some people throw out their back when they're sleeping. At this rate, I'm going to cause my own blindness and a concussion.
- RIP Steve Jobs.
- Is it weird that I get jealous when my friends get jury duty?
- I can't wait unitl November 7, 2012.
- I totally want rolls from Texas Roadhouse right now. I think the closest one is 200 miles away. Boo.
- Hmmm...I'm going to Stacey's Halloween party that starts in an hour. I guess I should decide on a costume...
November
- Conrad Murray=Guilty.
- Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in the middle of a giant game of Keep Away.
- I'm heading out of town in an hour. I should probably pack or something.
- I just sat through that whole movie and not one single vampire sparkled...
- The impossible has happened. I walked into Target, bought exactly what I went in for, and left.
- I've decided to start saving so that I can go on a trip to London next year. I should be fine. It wouldn't be the first time I've traveled alone to a foreign country where I don't speak the language.
- My sister would rather see Happy Feet 2 than the Muppets. One of the many ways I have failed in my duties as big sister.
- I wish I could travel by map.
December
- That awkward moment when you have to drop your pants for the doctor and find out you have shingles.
- Someone on TV just said that 1991 was 20 years ago and I went, "Nuh uh, dummy, it was only 10y...oh." Oops.
- I had this dream last night that I found the most perfect pair of jeans ever and they were on sale for $10. It was really sad to look in my closet this morning and discover it wasn't real.
- I want to yell really loud and kick something really hard.
- If Mr. Clean Erasers were really magic, they'd go clean the bathroom for me.
- Holy crap!! Elizabeth Bennet is following me on Twitter!
- If anyone is looking for somewhere to go for church this Sunday, I'd recommend avoiding the Anaheim Ward. I hear they've lined up a really boring speaker...
- It's Christmas Day and I'm running the air conditioner. I love living in So Cal.
- My right wrist just popped for the first time in almost 9 months. It was awesome.
Aw, Facebook. Thanks for helping me keep track of what a random and crappy year it was.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Stuff I Wrote This Year
(And seriously, TONS of stuff happened in 2011.)
--I thought I'd do a little bit of recapping, too.
After digging through my archives and re-reading, reminiscing, laughing, and recalling tragedies, I've pulled out a favorite post from each month. My personal list of finalists was pretty short, but in the end I've found some posts that I'm pretty proud of. And I hope you'll enjoy revisiting them, too.
January: "In a Blink"
This was a post about how quickly everything can change and why I felt the need to spend more time with the people in my life.
February: "Why Being Single and Mormon in Your 30s is Like Having a Chronic Disease"
A reflection on the common bits of throwaway advice singletons typically get from the attached people in their lives.
March: "Comfort Care"
I wrote this post about the emotional toll of caring for a dying relative.
April: "Wish"
A visit to an unexpected place in Buenos Aires, Argentina provided a much needed boost to a weary traveller.
May: "Great Rejoicing"
My thoughts on the celebrations that erupted after the death of Osama bin Laden.
June: "I Can't Call Her Little Anymore"
My little sister graduated from high school and, of course, I had to write about it.
July: "If Being Single and Mormon in Your 30s is Like Having a Chronic Disease, There Has to be a Better Cure"
Why I have no interest in attending singles' events.
August: "On Regrets and Wrong Decisions"
Regret is a choice. And just because you don't regret something doesn't mean it was right.
September: "5 Simple Rules for Setting Up Your Single Friends Without Making Enemies"
There is such a stigma on setting people up and these are some strategies for doing it successfully.
October: "Proud Cultist Since 1988"
A pastor in Texas said Mormonism is a cult and I just couldn't let that go without a response.
November: "Colorful Fighting"
Some siblings use sharp objects as weapons. My brother and I reached for something a little less dangerous and a little more destructive.
December: "Karen's Blog Awards 2011"
My favorite post of the year and the most creative post I've ever written. (BTW--I have a lot of unclaimed nominee and winner badges if you want them for your blogs. Let me know!)
So those are some of my favorite posts of the year. Do you have a different one that I didn't mention? And what post did you write this year that you love?
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Project 52: Finale 2011
I got to Luke. I'm going to finish John this week. I won't finish the entire New Testament, but at least I'll finish the gospels.
28.Go 10 days in a row without eating fast food. 12/10
SO much easier than I thought it would be. In fact, it was so easy that I think I'm going to add it to my list for 2012 and step it up a notch.
29.Use my crock pot at least once per month. 9/12
I actually can still do this and I think I'm going to try. With help from the awesome new Slow Cooker recipe book I got for Christmas from Marc and Kristi.
30.Try 2 new recipes per month. 10/24
I could say I totally failed since I didn't even hit the halfway mark, but I still tried 10 new recipes this year. That's pretty good.
31.Read 2 classic novels.(More than 50 years old.) 2/2
I LOVE A Christmas Carol, and I thoroughly enjoyed Catch-22, which I only JUST finished. I'll be writing a review on that one for Colleen's reading blog. Hopefully I'll get it done in the next couple of weeks.
32.Read 3 non-fiction books. 4/3
I discovered I really enjoy reading non-fiction, so I'm going to make it a point to read more in 2012.
33.Attend a performance at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts or the Disney Concert Hall.
Didn't happen. Just like my apple picking fail, this is another one that reminds me I really need to be more willing to go to stuff alone.
34.Finish writing the script for the Stake Musical.
I've basically got it written, but we didn't do a musical this year, so I kind of abandoned it. It looks like we're doing a Road Show (ugh) next year, so I think this project is dead in the water. For now, anyway.
35.Travel somewhere by boat.
I'm going to take a drive down to Balboa this week and hitch a ride on the ferry. This WILL be complete.
36.Write an article or story and get it published somewhere other than my own blog.
I need to get more serious about my writing.
37.Go to the temple once per month. 9/12
I'm going this week. Three times. For sure.
38.100% visiting teaching three months in a row.
I suck.
39.Go on a ghost hunt.
Went on two ghost hunts and am now a full-fledged part of the group.
40.Find a job closer to home.
Submitted lots of applications, had a couple of good interviews. I did what I could and still have a couple of irons in the fire that could turn into something next year. We'll see.
41.Read EVERY book for Book Club BEFORE Book Club. 9/9
Done. And loved it. Even though we barely talk about the books we read, it felt great to actually have finished every single one of them.
42.Dress up for Halloween. In a real costume.
I did. And it was pretty awesome. And I've already decided on a costume for next year.
43.Send Christmas cards.
The thing that sucks most about not doing this is the fact that Emily designed some REALLY cute cards for me and then I just never got around to ordering them. I'm lame.
44.Make something crafty.
After co-hosting two baby showers, I've definitely made something crafty.
45.Take some kind of class.
I was going to take a Spanish class, but realized I just didn't have time. I plan to in the new semester.
46.Play 18 holes with dad and brother(s).
Stupid broken arm.
47.Get a houseplant or two for my bedroom and keep them alive.
It's alive! Barely hanging on, but it's still green.
48.Travel to a state I haven't visited before. (Airports don't count.)
The only states I got to this year were Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. And I've definitely visited all of them before. More travel in 2012!
49.Complete NaNoWriMo again.
Done!
50.Go to a TV show taping.
I love completing goals on accident. Went with Marly and Rachel to a special screening of The Help, and discovered that MTV was taping a segment about the movie and included interviews with Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard. It was awesome.
51.Get a credit card.
I just didn't even bother to do this. I've gotten along just fine without one. I'll see how long that lasts.
52.Go 30 days without soda. 30/30
This one was easy during the first few days, but got really tough during the last week or so. I almost caved a couple of times, but getting through the month was worth it.
So that's how I did. How about you?
And next week, we'll be opening up the list for 2012. I hope you've been thinking about your goals for the new year!
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!
I was asked to speak in church today. Which sounded pretty exciting when I said yes. But a little daunting when I realized that meant I was going to have to speak in church. On Christmas Day. But, I guess it came together. Here is my talk in, pretty much, its entirety:
My thoughts dwelled on a movie that used to come on TV every year on Thanksgiving night. I’d always watch it with my brother and cousins. The movie was called Santa and the Three Bears and told the story of two young bear cubs who learn about Christmas and want desperately to celebrate. Their mother, however, says that Christmas isn’t for them and insists that they all must hibernate instead. The cubs persist and eventually get to celebrate their first Christmas.
Though I always loved the happy ending those two young bear cubs (and their mother) got, I thought about how sad it must be not to experience the joy of the season, whether by not knowing what it’s all about, or because circumstances in life have taken away that joy.
One of my favorite traditions growing up happened every year on Christmas Eve. My mom would gather me and my brother under the tree and she would tell the Nativity Story. I always loved hearing her tell the story, acting out parts of it with pieces from our Nativity set. When she was finished, we would sing Silent Night and then head off to bed, filled with warmth and happiness and the anticipation of the next day. I always looked forward to that time where we took a few minutes to talk about the real reason for Christmas. It was perfect.
As I got older, I found myself wondering what it was like, not just for Mary and Joseph and the shepherds that came from the fields, but for people in other places too Did they have any idea that this miracle had taken place?
It wasn’t until I was in 7th grade and learning about the church and the Book of Mormon that I finally got an answer to that question.
In the book of Helaman, we learn of Samuel the Lamanite, who comes to the Nephites to tell them of the coming of the Savior. He explained the signs that they should watch out for and promised that all of these things would come to pass. Some believed and were converted. Others doubted and become more wicked.
As the years passed, even many who believed started to doubt. Things got so bad that Nephi, the prophet, cried to the Lord. The answer he received is found in 3 Nephi 1:13:
"Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets."
That very night, when the sun set, darkness didn’t come.
"And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came." (vs15)
A new star appeared in the sky that night and the ‘more part of the people did believe and were converted unto the Lord.” (3 Nephi 1:22)
It’s important that the birth of the Son of God would be proclaimed to all the world, that all may know of this more beautiful and sacred of moments in history. No one was forgotten.
In Luke 2, when the angel appears to the shepherds to proclaim the Holy Birth, he says, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all people”
All people.
About a week ago, I found myself in a surprising conversation. Someone asked the question, “Why do non-Christians celebrate Christmas?” I was so stunned, not only by the question, but by the implication of it. That somehow Christmas belongs only to those who fully appreciate and understand it.
What a tragedy it would be to deprive anyone of the opportunity to celebrate this wonderful time of year. This blessing was given to all of us and is ours to celebrate as we will.
Every year, Christmas seems to start earlier. Store displays are now going up in August. And sales are going well into the season. Just this morning I received an email offering last minute gifts online.
It’s easy to get bogged down in the gifts. To feel inadequate when finances don’t cooperate and our generosity must necessarily bee more in spirit than in the tangible. I’m not going to lie. Christmas is FUN when you have the money to spend on your loved ones. But I’ve found that my most memorable and joy-filled times are the years when I can’t afford lavish presents. When I’m not stressing about the perfect gift and am, instead, focusing my attention on the recipient.
President Thomas S. Monson said at this year’s First Presidency Christmas devotional:
“I, with you, have witnessed during the past few days and weeks what has become over the years the annual commercialization of Christmas. I am saddened to see Christmas becoming less and less about Christ and more and more about marketing and sales, parties and presents.
“And yet, Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christmas.”
There are many ways to keep Christ at the center of our celebration. By studying his life and following his righteous, perfect example. We can take this time to be kinder to one another. Lending a listening ear to someone who is grieving or otherwise suffering. Simply being kind to a stranger, even if they might have just cut in line at a store.
Christmastime is a gift given to us by our Father in Heaven. It is time to spend with loved ones and perform service and focus on the things that really matter.
A friend of mine recently wrote:
“What is it about this time of year that brings this sudden euphoria and feeling of giving and love? Is it because we hear the radio stations jammed with Christmas songs? Is it from the distinct feel of giving around us as evident in the newly fallen snow? What is it that makes us all a little more forgiving of each others’ mistakes and shortcomings?
“I firmly believe that the sense of joy does not come from presents, it doesn’t come from snow, or even the music. Yes, each of these may attribute to the real reason, but in essence, I believe that Christmas comes from the feeling we feel deep inside our hearts. It is the love of family, the remembrance of those whom have come in—and perhaps out of—our lives but who have made a distinct mark, one that helped to shape us into the individuals which we are- and the type we have yet to become.”
(It’s a good thing Christmas doesn’t depend on snow or we’d be in a lot of trouble here in Southern California.)
Focusing on each other and on our Savior makes the entire season merrier. Makes us happier. Helps to make this a truly wonderful time of year.
As the Grinch discovered after his thwarted attempt to steal Christmas:
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hour, ‘til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
Christmas isn’t something that can be bought. It can’t be gift-wrapped or covered in ribbon. And yet, it is a wonderful gift.
It is my hope that we can all enjoy today for what it is. That we can spend it with people we love. That we can feel the deep and abiding love our Savior has for us. This truly is the most wonderful time of year. And remembering what it is truly about can help us carry that wonderful feeling with us all throughout the year.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
A Flicker of Christmas Spirit
Things have been getting a little better each day as Christmas has approached. I honestly love Christmas so much and haven't been the least bit Bah Humbug about it, despite how it might sound.
But last night I had the tiniest of experiences that really helped shift me into the right spirit. It's funny how something so small and probably insignificant to someone else can change you, even for just a moment.
I had to run into one of my favorite stores for two quick things. I don't want to sound like I'm bad-mouthing the store when I tell this story, since instead of calling it by its proper name, I'll just call it..."Bullseye" for the sake of this post.
(By the way, "bullseye" is a weird word when you see it spelled out.)
By some miracle, I found a parking spot really close to the doors and dashed inside. I randomly ran into a friend in one aisle and we chatted and stuff while each looking for a couple of things we needed, then parted company when I had finished my shopping and she continued hers.
And then I went to the registers.
I got into the shortest line, which is almost always bad luck. As soon as I got into line, the cashier turned off his light and announced that his line was closed.
Grrr.
So I got out of that line and stepped into the next.
An older woman in a sweater that was an annoying shade of blue and had been waiting in a third line stepped over and looked at him with big, Golden Retriever eyes and said, "Oh, but I just have four things. Couldn't you please help me?"
As he nodded and allowed her into his line, I looked down at the two items in my hand and suddenly wanted to leave them on the shelf and walk right out the door. But I needed them and had already waited, and leaving now would mean I'd just wasted a lot of time and energy. Both of which have been in short supply lately.
A girl in front of me (who had three things in her hands) turned around and we bantered a bit about how irritating that entire moment had been and I said, "Bullseye really needs an express lane at this time of year. Well, really ANY time of year, but especially now."
She agreed and right then we noticed that a fourth line had suddenly become devoid of customers and no one had noticed. Which was right when that cashier shut off her light.
Grrr again.
Well, this young lady in front of me decided to try that old lady's trick. "Will you hold my place in line while I go ask if she'll take me?"
"Of course," I said. I figured if she didn't, I was in no worse place in line, and if she did I was at least one transaction closer to freedom.
The cashier took her and so I stepped forward one position and continued to wait. The transaction that was currently in process was taking way too long.
The girl came back over to me while the cashier was finishing ringing her up and said, "Come over here."
"Is she going to take me?" I asked.
"She said she would. I told her we came her together."
I ran to the next lane, put my purchases onto the conveyor belt and was finished within just a minute or two. I turned to thank the girl, but she had disappeared into a sea of shoppers bound for the parking lot.
I thanked the cashier profusely and she told me she was willing to put off her break for a minute if it meant helping someone else out.
That is some real customer service.
And it melted my icy heart just a little.
So, to the mysterious shopper and the girl who was on checkstand 12 at the Bullseye in Garden Grove last night, thank you.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
"Tradition is the illusion of permanence." -Woody Allen
But I loved that Nativity scene and all our traditions so much that I made my mom repeat the story every Christmas Eve until I was well into high school and she decided I was old enough to do it myself. It was never the same when I told it.
We had a lot of holiday traditions in our house. Decorating cookies. Trimming the tree--always real, never artificial. Hanging our stockings by the chimney with care. Creeping down the hall on Christmas morning to retrieve our overflowing stockings and taking them into our parents' room to open them while Mom and Dad slowly became conscious and ready to face our excitement.
Those traditions have faded now. Alive and well in my rose-colored memory, but dimming ever so slightly with each passing year.
I hadn't thought much about it until recently when I started seeing elves appear on the shelves of many of my friends and Facebook buddies. And then last week I read this post by Colleen about Christmas traditions. I've read plenty of others, but hers was the one that did it.
Everything was fine. I was enjoying the all-too-quickly approaching holiday. Preparing for parties and planning the gifts I couldn't wait to share with people I love. Deciding which cookies to make for my co-workers and friends.
Everything is no longer fine.
I can't stop thinking about those traditions from my childhood. The ones I always dreamed of sharing one day. Of passing on.
The traditions that are forever committed to my memory because I have no one to continue them with.
There will be no ears listening in rapt attention as I share the story of Jesus's birth. No padding of tiny feet as children come bounding into my bedroom, full of eagerness as they describe the bounty that Santa delivered.
I'm not alone at Christmas. I know I will never need to be alone at Christmas. But everything is changing around me and it becomes more apparent with each passing year.
I used to put on blinders so that I could get through the holiday without lamenting the fact that there was no special someone to shop for. No one to walk with hand-in-hand on a tour through Christmas light displays. No date to the parties and to the family dinner.
And I could handle that. Surviving the holidays as a single person isn't that hard. I'm used to it. I've done it for years.
But this. I was blindsided by this.
Because, for the first time, I've started to realize what being single at Christmas really means.
It means there will be no elves on my shelf. That there will be no one to brag about in the annual letter. No waiting in long lines to pay for a blurry, over-priced photo of crying children sitting upon the knee of a slightly creepy stranger. No one fighting as we try to take the annual Christmas card photo. And it means that when and where I see my family will always depend on the schedules of those with children and in-laws.
There's been no shopping. No baking of goodies. No interest in the Christmas parties. The spirit of the season has fled.
I love Christmas. It really is my most favorite time of year.
I'm just going to have to find a new way to appreciate it now.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Project 52: Week 51
Over the last few weeks, I've given some tips and strategies for getting started and having a successful year of goals and accomplishments. This week and next I'm going to be going through my own list to see how I've done in 2011.
(Hint: It wasn't as productive as I hoped it would be...)
My rule in 2012 is going to be: Wait for no one. I really wanted to do this but was apprehensive about going alone and made very loose plans that never worked out.
2. Go to 10 Angel games. 5/10
Five games isn't bad. But did you hear? We just got Albert Pujols. I want to go to 61 games in 2012.
3. Have a blogger meetup in Utah.
Partway through the year, Jennee and I decided to give everyone a chance to trade in a couple of goals that we could definitely not finish. After careful study of the Angels calendar, I knew I wasn't going to make it. So I decided to have a meetup in Utah instead. Many thanks to Emily and Kristina for making that one possible! Celina and Jamie, I'm so sorry I didn't get to meet you and I hope to next time!
4. Read the Dark Tower series. 1/7
I'm on the second one and am still crazy enough to believe I can finish them all in two weeks...
5. Read the Chronicles of Narnia. 7/7
That was a great journey. But I still hate the ending.
6. Host a fancy dinner party.
Didn't happen. Maybe next year.
7. Launch small online business.
It's happening this week. For no particular reason other than to get it done.
8. Go to a blog/writing conference.
I planned on going to the Casual Bloggers Conference but they canceled it. I wanted to go to BlogHer but couldn't afford it. I also wanted to go to Bloggy Boot Camp but didn't buy tickets in time. And writing conferences were out of my price range, too. Just wasn't my year.
9. Send queries to 10 agents. 0/10
Since they generally prefer that you've already completed the manuscript, this will have to happen in 2012.
10.Get a DSLR.
Maybe one day.
11.Donate blood.
Because of my surgery and then having to take some variety or other of painkillers for months, this one is going to have to wait, too. But I'm counting it finished since I volunteered at a blood drive.
12.Try Zumba.
I'm off the week after Christmas and am going to try to do it then.
13.Buy black boots.
I think I just accidentally bought some from Shoe Dazzle. Yay.
14.Spend a weekend away from home--alone.
This was going to happen early in the year, but I invited a friend who really needed to get out of town. And then I was indisposed for awhile and there hasn't really been a good weekend since.
15.Interview an actor, a writer, and a singer.
I had a couple of plans but they never quite worked out.
16.Attend a city council meeting.
Unfortunately, my city council meets on the same night I watch my grandmother and I just never got it together to go during the weeks that I wasn't helping my mom.
17.Run a 5K for a cause.
It's been one setback after another for me. I was supposed to run on December 10, but the stupid shingles settled on my sciatic nerve and kept me immobile.
18.Ask someone who intimidates me to write a guest post for my blog.
Right now, you all kind of intimidate me. Anyone want to write a guest post?
19.Write an awesome guest post for someone else.
The general consensus was that it was awesome. I still have my doubts.
20.Study Spanish.
I have a little bit. But nothing formal.
21.Have a Lord of the Rings day.
Thank you, five weeks of medical leave!
22.Complete Emily's TV challenge and invite others to join in.
Not only did I complete it, I got totally addicted to Psych and now mourn the cancellation of Veronica Mars. And I've tried Drop Dead Diva, I just couldn't really get into it. But I'll give it another go during my break.
How about you all? How many of you checked out The Walking Dead? Community? Something else?
23.Order business cards.
I have no idea why I didn't do this.
24.Organize the music on my iPod.
I have playlists. Lots of playlists. It's a beautiful thing.
25.Create a budget.
Creating the budget was the easy part.
26.Stick to the budget for three months in a row. 3/3
You know, the longer I work with this budget, the easier it's gotten. I don't stick to it 100%, but I'm shocked at how much easier it is to keep track of my money and where it's going. And how much I've been wasting. Talk about an eye-opener!
So that's where I'm at so far. Could be better. Could be a lot worse. I'll take it.
How have you done this year?
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Deja Vu: I Gave at the Office
DL Hammons from Cruising Altitude 2.0 is hosting the Déjà Vu Blogfest today. Similar to the Flashback Fridays I did this summer. For today's blogfest, I chose something I wrote last Christmas about giving. Not gifts to friends and loved ones, but to the many charities that ask for help this time of year.
I ran to the grocery store the other night to pick up one quick thing I needed for Book Club. As I walked into the Albertson's I recently swore to never again frequent--
(Because when I say "never" I really mean "eventually...")
--there was someone dressed in a white uniform carrying a red bucket. I see these folks often. They aren't from the Salvation Army, but from some other church and they've hit me up for spare change outside the grocery store, at Angels games and even at a concert or two. They're everywhere.
I politely declined and dashed into the store, found what I was looking for and was at the register in under three minutes. Where I was asked if I would like to donate a dollar to feed starving children this Christmas.
It's only a dollar.
And it's for the children, after all.
How could anyone say no to that?
I said no.
Just like I did the last time they asked me to donate a dollar to some cause or another.
And I felt guilty about it. Just like I did last time.
I'm sure they are all worthy causes. Anything that involves helping others, even if it's only a percentage that actually reaches the ones in need, is worthwhile.
But if I gave away a dollar every time someone asked for one, I'd soon have no dollars left for myself. And as someone who now has a monthly car payment and this ridiculous habit of eating food once in awhile, and a diva-esque desire to sleep under a roof instead of under the stars, I have to hang onto some of those dollars.
I already give 10% of my income to the church. Plus some extra, when I can spare it. Can't have those missionaries eating ramen noodles for two years. And I donate a lot of spare time and energy to working with women at church, plus a heck of a lot of free time volunteering with the Job's Daughters. I bought a beautiful fresh Christmas wreath from my step-sister's kids' school fundraiser. I went to Paraguay this summer with Habitat for Humanity (for which I did some fundraising myself). I donate clothes and furniture to a local Goodwill or Deseret Industries, and I sometimes give few bucks to the random guy at the gas station so he can do a crappy job washing my windshield.
I already give.
A lot.
So why do I feel guilty about not giving just one dollar to feed those starving children?
I guess because it really is only a dollar, after all.
But when is enough, enough?
I mean, to be honest, I really do wish I could snap my fingers and give everyone everything they needed, plus a lot of what they want. But that's just not how it works.
So, instead, I have to choose which causes to support. Which is fine. I can do that.
I'm just not sure how to say no without looking like a cheap jerk.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
They Announced the Golden Globe Nominees This Morning and I Have a Few Thoughts....
The Descendants? What the heck is that? Why is there a movie nominated for Best Motion Picture that I haven't even heard of?
Why does Tilda Swinton keep getting nominated for stuff?
Crazy, Stupid, Love really should have been nominated in the Comedy or Musical category. Lame that it wasn't.
And also, why wasn't The Muppets nominated?
Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet are both nominated for Best Actress for Carnage and I haven't heard of that either? What is going on here?
And speaking of Best Actress in a Comedy, Kristen Wiig? Seriously? The movie was funny, but she was just okay.
Ryan Gosling for Crazy, Stupid, Love?? Awesome!
The Best Animated Feature category is looking a little...unimpressive. Where were all the good animated flicks this year?
I really need to see more foreign films.
Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain were both nominated for The Help? That's fantastic! But really too bad they couldn't just nominate the whole cast.
Jonah Hill is nominated for a Golden Globe? Another sign that the world must surely be ending in 2012.
The directors and screenplays that were nominated just don't sound that exciting to me. This year is weird.
Same with Original Score, though I'm always a fan of Howard Shore and John Williams.
Best Original Songs...blah.
Dexter isn't nominated for Best Television Series? I think the apocalypse has already started.
Madeleine Stowe's Best Actress in a TV Drama is a semi-pleasant surprise. I love that show, I appropriately hate her character, but I wouldn't say she's the best.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE HFPA?? No nomination for Michael C. Hall? Seriously?
And why do I live in a world where Kelsey Grammar keeps getting nominated for stuff? Honestly.
Yay! New Girl is nominated! I love that show. And I love Zooey Deschanel.
And this is a surprise. Johnny Galecki was nominated over Jim Parsons?
And I'm pretty disappointed that Steve Carrell wasn't nominated for The Office. That's shameful.
I can't believe Sharktopus wasn't nominated for Best Motion Picture made for TV. Shocking.
Something's wrong. Judi Dench and Helen Mirren weren't nominated for anything?
Overall, the biggest surprise for me was how many of these movies I haven't even heard of, and how many new shows were nominated. It looks like they're finally mixing things up a little bit this year. Awards season is going to be strange in 2012.
The 69th Golden Globe Awards will air live on NBC on Sunday, January 15, 2012. You can find the entire list of nominees here.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Karen's Blog Awards 2011
It was so obvious that I can't believe I didn't think of it myself.
Jennee asked me yesterday if I was going to be announcing the winners as I do every award show. In play-by-play format.
Honestly, it hadn't even occurred to me. But I have a bit of a reputation to uphold, and I pretty much had to. So, like any other award show, I invited all your favorite celebrities to come and present our very first Blog Awards.
They all turned me down.
So I called upon a few less famous friends for help. And now, on with the show!
Oh, but before we get to that, I wanted to let you know that you are ALL winners and yada yada yada. Thank you to everyone who was part of this process at every stage. I did not choose the winners. You did. Also, there are awards for ALL nominees (semi-finalists included) and awards for the winners. I'm not going to track you down to give you your award. If you want it, email me (apeekatkarensworld(at)gmail(dot)com) with your blog name and category and I'll get you the appropriate award.
Okay?
Now, for reals, ON WITH THE SHOW!
6:02pm--There's a brilliant song and dance number sung by our host for this evening, Karen Peterson. There has never been a musical spectacular like it in all the Blog World. Everyone in the audience jumps to the their feet in a standing ovation before she's evening finished. Amazing. Simply amazing.
6:17pm--Karen looks stunning in a gorgeous, flaming orange gown and the most beautiful shoes ever. Who is her designer?? She does a hilarious monologue about all the talented bloggers that weren't nominated, and all the nominees that won't win.
6:25pm--Our first presenters tonight are the girl who played the middle daughter on Charles in Charge and Wesley from Mr. Belvedere. They're presenting the award for Favorite New Blog.
6:27pm--Their banter is really awkward. Someone needs to take the microphone away.
6:31pm--And the winner is: Just a Chick in a Chair!
6:32pm--So Cal Gal wheels up onto the stage looking fabulous in black. She gives a delightful acceptance speech and thanks the people that forced her to give up her old blog and start a new one in 2011, without whom, this award would not have been possible.
6:38pm--Karen is back after her first costume change. Now she's in this weird green dress that looks like weeds. She tells a joke about 80s television shows, but it falls flat because no one seems to remember Kate and Allie.
6:40pm--The next presenter is David Gould, the very first person ever fired on The Apprentice. He's here to present the award for Best Kept Secret.
6:41pm--He is surprisingly funny and tells all kinds of jokes about Donald Trump's hair. The audience loves him.
6:44pm--And the winner is--Oh, wait! It's a TIE! The Best Kept Secret awards go to: Barlow Stars and (Not) So Single!
6:45pm--Stephanie and The Mrs. race to the stage. Stephanie sticks out a foot and tries to trip The Mrs., but she jumps right over and gets to the microphone first, smiling like nothing ever happened. She mostly wants to thank her husband, but then Stephanie grabs the microphone and starts comparing life to an episode of the Muppets.
6:58pm--The dog from How the Grinch Stole Christmas introduces the first of the Favorite Blog of the Year nominees: And Then She Was Like Blah, Blah, Blah.
7:03pm--Karen comes back after another costume change. This time she looks like she's on fire. I think she's trying to channel Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. We'll have to wait for the movie to know for sure, but I'm thinking Katniss wore it best.
7:05pm--And to present the award for Favorite Pee-in-Your-Pants Funny Blog is...Ben Stein.
7:06pm--He doesn't tell any jokes. Just gets right to the winner which is: Thee Bergdorf Brunette!
7:07pm--Jessica does the parade wave as she approaches the stage, then thanks everyone she's ever met in her entire life, but most especially Katy Perry.
7:14pm--Tyler Bunch, who recently played Foozie the Moopet, presents the next Favorite Blog of the Year nominee: Barlow Stars.
7:19pm--Next there is a big musical montage of auto-play songs found throughout the blog world. It's super loud and sounds like a big old mess.
7:34pm--Karen, now wearing a much simpler blue gown presents the next award herself: Favorite Inspirational Blog.
7:36pm--The winner is: Gitzen Girl. Sadly, Sara could not be here tonight because she passed away in September. But her sister is here to accept the award on her behalf.
7:41pm--Next, Karen introduces The Nephew, who just stands on stage and looks adorable for ten minutes.
7:51pm--To present the award for Favorite Blog by a Parent are Kate Goslin and Nadya Suleman, who banter about how much they appreciate all the people who raise their children for them.
7:56pm--Kate shoves Nadya off the stage and announces the winner: I'm Living Proof that God Has a Sense of Humor!
7:57pm--Helene is on her feet, but her kids jump up onto the stage before she gets there. Landon and Garrett fight over who gets to talk into the microphone while Cole makes funny faces into the nearest camera and Bella twirls her pink sparkly dress. Helene finally gets to the stage and thanks everyone for laughing with her instead of at her.
8:09pm--The next presenter is the narcoleptic customer from that episode of Punky Brewster where Cherry and Punky think they killed a guy. He's presenting the next nominee for Favorite Blog of the Year: Sleep Talkin' Man!
8:13pm--There's a song and dance number featuring rejected American Idol contestants. Simon appears from backstage and tells them they are all terrible and need to go home. The audience boos Simon.
8:25pm--Karen appears in some sort of weird dress that sort of looks like a wedding dress and starts singing "All the Single Ladies." Then she announces the presenters for Favorite Single's Blog: Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi.
8:36pm--After a few minutes of bickering and agreeing that it really was better for the entire world that they broke up, Vienna starts to open the envelope but Jake accidentally knocks it out of her hand. She gets mad and then they make out. And then Ben, the next Bachelor runs onto the stage and announces that the winner is: Thee Bergdorf Brunette!
8:38pm--Jessica sidesteps the very distracted Jake and Vienna and thanks everyone for the second award, especially her BFF, Katy Perry.
8:44pm--Karen comes back onto the stage dressed as William Shakespeare and does a dramatic reading of a excerpts from novels published by bloggers in 2011.
9:37pm--Stephenie Meyer presents the award for Favorite Blog About Writing to: I can't believe it! We have another tie! The winners are Alex J. Cavanaugh and The Serial Killer Files!
9:39pm--Alex and Jennifer are both ridiculously polite, each trying to insist that the other speak first. They finally settle on thanking their fans together.
9:42pm--Karen has switched from gowns to pants and is now in a bright yellow suit. She announces Copernicus the homicidal monkey, who introduces the next nominee for Favorite Blog of the Year: The Bloggess!
9:47pm--To present the award for Favorite Crafty-Type Blog is Martha Stewart. As she walks onto the stage, the entire set instantly becomes more festive.
9:50pm--The award for Favorite Crafty-Type Blog goes to: The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking!
9:51pm--Kelly walks onto the stage in a beautiful gown, takes one look at her award and instantly changes it to teal. Then she wishes everyone a very crafty Christmas.
9:57pm--Karen comes back out. She's now ditched the suit and is wearing jeans and a sweater. And she introduces the next presenter, Michael Emerson, who presents the award for Favorite "Other" Blog. How a propos.
10:00pm--Michael Emerson reminisces about his days as an Other and then he calls out the Smoke Monster to frighten away the nominees. The last one standing is our winner: Blondesense and Nonsense!
10:02pm--Shawna, looking fabulous, expresses her gratitude for the award, for everyone who voted, and most especially that her baby didn't have a blow out all over her dress.
10:06pm--Gordon Ramsey introduces the final nominee for Favorite Blog of the Year, The Pioneer Woman Cooks! Most of his remarks have to be edited for content.
10:11pm--There is another musical montage of all the year's nominated posts. Things are a little awkward when they attempt to find rhyming words for parts of The Bloggess's post, "Knock Knock Mother F-----."
10:25pm--Karen introduces Lindsay Lohan and Miley Cyrus. They are presenting the award for Most Inspiring Post.
10:29pm--Lindsay chews on her fingernails while Miley sings her jokes and laughs a lot. Annoyed, Lindsay grabs the envelope and announces that the award goes to Our Lovely Life for the post, "I Will and I Can."
10:42pm--Realizing the show is running long, Karen says that the next presenter picked the wrong time to run to the bathroom, so she's just going to present the award for Funniest Post.
10:43pm--The winner is The Bloggess for her post "Knock Knock Mother Fu---- Revisited." Unfortunately, she seems to have left the room and so the award is accepted on her behalf by Beyoncé, the Giant Metal Chicken.
10:48pm--Presenting the award for Most Helpful Post is the guy who invented the Demotivational Posters.
10:49pm--He says awards are for people who can't think of better ways to get attention. He looks pointedly at Karen as he says this. And then he announces that the award goes to I'm Living Proof that God Has a Sense of Humor for the post, "What I wish someone had told me about marriage."
10:51pm--Helene comes back to the stage and says that she is grateful to win this award, and also that her children have bedtimes.
10:54pm--To present the award for Most Thought-Provoking Post is Jack Handey.
11:01pm--After sharing some Deep Thoughts about winning, and also about swashbuckling, he announces that the winner is Emily's Thought Blog, for the post "Monday Means 'What the...'"!
11:03pm--Emily thanks everyone for their votes and publicly calls on Arby's to pull their terrible commercial and make a formal apology.
11:14pm--Karen, now in pajamas and yawning comes back to the mike to personally announce the Favorite Blog of the Year.
11:15pm--The winner is And Then She Was Like Blah Blah Blah!
11:16pm--The music starts playing as Ru is trying to give her acceptance speech. Karen apologizes for letting the show run over and begs everyone to come back next year!
11:18pm--And that's our show, my friends! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Though I doubt that very much.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Project 52: Week 50 (Again)
Not sure how it happened, but someone was a little off in counting and got a week ahead of schedule, so I think this is actually week 50 and last week was 49. Who knows how long my weeks have actually been off.
But, oh well. It happens.
What matters is that our year is barreling to the end and holy crap how is Christmas only 13 days away?
I promise to get back to updating my own list for you, because there HAS been some progress, but today I want to continue with how to set goals and actually do them.
If you'll recall, the last few weeks we've talked about:
Step 1: Brainstorm the List
Step 2: Pare down the List
Step 3: Hone the List
And this week, I want to talk about Step 4: Plan the List.
A wise man once quoted another wise man to me when he said, "A goal without a plan is just a wish."
I have no idea who originally said it, but I can promise that it is SO TRUE.
Now, there does need to be a little room for spontaneity in your List, and there will be things that get crossed off just because you happen to click on a link to sign up for free tickets to a screening of a movie you're dying to see and you get selected for those tickets and then find out that they're also filming a segment for a TV show and low and behold, you've managed to accomplish your goal of attending a TV taping.
It happens.
And you have to leave yourself open to those possibilities, because it's pretty awesome when they do.
But, for the most part, you're going to need to do a little bit of planning so that you don't wake up on December 12 and realize that you only have three weeks left to finish everything.
Now, to start off, I LOVE calendars. Love them. I mostly love writing on them, which is why I get one that's big enough to write on and still read what I wrote later. My preferred calendar for this type of thing is this one:
I buy them at Staples for, like, 3 bucks and then hang it on the wall behind my bedroom door. It's out of the way, but still in a place where I can see it.
I also LOVE color, so I got a 12-pack of the bright and cheery fine-point Sharpies. I try to keep certain things the same color. Like birthdays. And church activities and work-related things and doctor's appointments. If there's a recurring type of event, I'll choose one color for it and stay consistent throughout the year. It's a personal thing, but that helps me keep straight with what's coming up by just a glance.
Next, I go through the calendar and mark things that I know have to happen around certain times. I jot down birthdays and graduations and whatever else I already know about. And I also take advantage of that space at the bottom of the calendar that is reserved for Notes. That's where I scribble in things like "NaNoWriMo" for November, because I already know if I'm doing NaNoWriMo, it has to be in November.
I do that with my whole list. Anything that is specific to a season or month but might not have a specific date, I make note of it on the appropriate pages of my calendar. This helps keep track of what's coming up, but also helps with the next part, which is filling in with other things.
So now you're looking at your List and at your calendar and you've got a whole bunch of goals that don't have a place yet. Before you stress yourself out thinking you have to plan every last thing, be sensible. Give yourself some wiggle room. But also try to figure out when you might like to do some of those things. Try to spread them throughout the year so that you don't get your whole list finished before the summer, or so that you aren't trying to cram a bunch of tasks or expenses into one part of the year.
You do need to allow some flexibility, because anything could happen. You might contract an Old People Disease or find yourself needing unexpected surgery, or get a job transfer or any number of possibilities. Don't be so strict with your plan that you can't make changes as your needs change. But give yourself some vision of what the year is going to look like. That's what will help keep you going.
How did you do this week? Link up and share. And be sure to see what Jennee's been up to.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Choosing Hope
And it would be easy to focus on that and get scared by it.
On the other hand, it seems that every time I turn around, I hear about a new treatment or a new study or some other sign that there is hope on the horizon.
The truth is, I'm a little bit scared of cancer. It's mean and aggressive and it doesn't care which political party you belong to or which church you go to, or whether you are rich or poor. If it wants you, it can find you.
But then I watch videos like the one posted below, and I think about the friends and acquaintances and members of my family who have faced their own diagnoses and treatments and mixed outcomes and I realize that cancer doesn't have to be scary unless we let it. We get to choose what to focus on. Whether it's the disease or the treatment, the illness or the time spent with loved ones is up to us.
There are so many advances being made. Just this morning I heard about another group that is waiting for approval from the FDA to start trials on a procedure that could eventually lead to an actual cure.
Some will immediately disregard that and proclaim that there is no cure for cancer.
I choose to look at the positive. Because I know one day we'll live in a world where there IS a cure. And I hope I get to be here to see it.
This post is sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
You are awesome. And if you share this post, you'll be even awesomer!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Buddy Up
It's no secret that I LOVE television.
A lot.
I love well developed stories, but there are few things that bring more joy to my heart than witty banter between great characters. And there's just something special about the buddy relationships between guys and the way some of those relationships are portrayed these days.
Here are five of my favorite dynamic duos currently on TV:
Mr. Finch and Mr. Reese, Person of Interest
(Michael Emerson and James Caviezel)
 |
| CBS |
Mr. Reese: I took the liberty of booking the whole floor. Your card.
Mr. Finch: Guess I can use the miles."
Flynn and Provenza, The Closer
(Tony Dennison and G.W. Bailey)
 |
| TNT |
Flynn: It took me a half an hour to get this piece of crap started. I think we should take your car. I'm just sayin'.
Provenza: Dodgers/Giants. Rez vs. Schmidt. Skybox tickets! And we're late because you bought the only car they ever stole in Mexico and brought here to sell!
Steve McGarret and Danny 'Danno' Williams, Hawaii Five-0
(Alex O'Laughlin and Scott Caan)
(Alex O'Laughlin and Scott Caan)
 |
| CBS |
Danny: Oh yes, they do. They do all the time, so they can hang themselves when they're bored.
McGarrett: Okay, put it in your pocket. You can kill yourself later.
Shawn Spencer and Burton 'Gus' Guster, Psych
(James Roday and Dulé Hill)
 |
| USA Network |
Gus: So now I have a cat?
Shawn: An orange tabby. Last Christmas you made her a tiny Santa hat and she adores it. Gus: Fantastic. I can't even have a make-believe boy cat.
Shawn: Gus, a boy cat would never serve my purposes nearly as well. Next time I need you, Pickles is having kittens.
Gus: Pickles?
Shawn: Mrs. Pickles is her full name. Although, I'm not actually sure cats can marry outside of Boston.
Okay, so this last pair isn't fictional. They're real. And they are awesome:
Steve and Tango, Ghost Hunters
(Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango)
 |
| SyFy |
Tango: Yeah? Hmm.
Steve: Hello, ladies! Me and my friend here are lonely travelers.
Tango: Laaa-dies...
Steve: I'd like a brunette, please.
Tango: We just wanna have some fun. That's all.
Steve: I'm a nice guy. I like animals, long walks on the beach...
Tango: Steve, I think they're turning us down.
Steve: I never get turned down.
So, what are some of your favorite platonic pairings?
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