So Inspired - Change

All changes,
even the most longed for,
have their melancholy;
for what we leave behind is part of ourselves;
we must die to one life before we can enter into another.
- Anatole France

 

Catching Up

This is where I was on Tuesday.  Okay, not necessarily the Chicago Theatre...although I was close enough to it to see the sign.  Actually I was in Chicago to see my son.   He had a reoccurring role in a web-based series and on Tuesday the final two episodes were shown at the Landmark Theatre.  It was fun to see him on the BIG SCREEN again.  I know I'm a bit prejudiced (after all he IS my son) but that kid has talent!  He is so much fun to watch when he's acting...and he always seems to get a big reaction from the audience, whether he's on stage...or in film.  :)

Augie's campus is usually beautiful this time of year...actually it's pretty awesome anytime of year...but right now we're dealing with the renovation of Old Main.  It desperately needs it but I wish we could just push the EASY button and have it done already!  

Speaking of school.   I'm supposed to be writing a paper right now.  Can't seem to focus on it though so I'm blogging instead!!!!!  :)  The paper is on Haiti....poverty/corruption/earthquake, etc.  Which reminds me of this...Haiti By Hand.  One small way to help...you should really check it out.

This probably seems like a bit of a hodge-podge...but that's kind of what my life is right now!  In addition to my family, work, class and scrapbooking (!)...I've also been spending time volunteering for a political campaign.  I've got to say, if you find a candidate that you believe in, take the time to help out...even if it's just a few hours a week.  It's so easy to sit back and complain about our political system, but if you look around the world at other political processes,  what we experience in the U.S. is pretty amazing.  Sure, we all get sick of the attack ads and the pollsters' phone calls during dinner but how great is it that we can actually participate in our elections and express our views?  So, get involved if you can!

Although my time has been somewhat limited the past couple of months, I AM still scrapbooking!  With just over a week left of the campaign AND class....I'm excited about having more time to be creative again.  I admit, my Etsy shop hasn't been quite as full lately as I would like, but remember that you can always order custom books.  Over the next few weeks I'll be burning the midnight oil to get stock built up for a local show on Nov. 20th.....and then..... 

I feel some changes coming on.  If you know me, you know I get bored easily (quickly?).   And, I dislike boredom and feeling unchallenged.   So, I'm looking for and considering some new opportunities.  Stay tuned.  :)

It was supposed to be a rainy weekend here, but the sun has come out this afternoon and it's a beautiful fall day.  Hope it's amazing wherever you are....

...now back to that paper....

My Mother’s Day Gift…Toby

His official name is Catawba Mountain Ronon….but he has been unofficially named TOBY.  He’s named after Toby Zachary Ziegler from the West Wing (of course!).   He’s a bit scruffy like Toby and a little bit of a renegade like Toby so I think it fits.

We’re still getting used to each other.  And we’ve had a few disagreements….he thinks it’s fine to use my carpet as a potty and I think he should be doing his business OUTside….but eventually I’m sure he’ll come around and see things my way.  Cuz basically in that department…it’s MY way or the highway! 

I’m willing to overlook a few indiscretions  while he’s getting used to his new environment, but I’m praying this phase will be short!  I think he’s laying his territory since I’m sure the house is still ‘scented’ like Lucky.  So Toby is just trying to make it his own.  Right?  Maybe some of you more experienced dog owners can help me out on this.

It’s a little hard not to constantly compare him to Lucky…but they are very different.  Lucky was 10 years old when he died in March so he was a pretty mellow dude the last few years.  He loved to lay right beside my chair.  I always had to look before I moved so I wouldn’t roll over him.   Toby doesn’t feel the need to even be in the same room.   He’s also just 2-1/2 years old so he’s got more puppy in him.  He still has some of that toddler walk going on.  You know, kind of like he’s moving faster than his body can actually control.  And, of course, he’s not used to this house yet so he’s constantly running into things.  If I’m walking around, he walks with me but instead of watching where’s he’s going, he watches me.  So bam…right into the doorway or cabinet or furniture.

This is definitely a new adventure.  One more way CHANGE has made it’s way into my life this year.

 

It’s a numbers game, Baby!

 If anyone tells you that they don’t care about the numbers, my guess is that they’re lying.  These days it’s hard to NOT care about numbers.  Think I’m wrong?  Think again. 

What’s your age?  What’s your weight?  Your blood sugar?  Your blood pressure?  The number of calories you’re putting in your body today?  What’s the number of new emails in your inbox in the morning?  How many friends do you have on Facebook?  How many fans on your page?  How many hits to your website in the last week…the last 24 hours?   How many followers?  How many sales in your eBay store, your Etsy shop?  How many people heart your shop?  What’s your feedback number?  How many text messages are on your phone?  How many points did you get on that paper?  How many points do you have in the class?  What’s your GPA?  What did you get on the ACT?  How many points did you score in the big game?  What’s your salary?  The price of your new house?  Your new car?

It seems like numbers are becoming more and more important…but do they define us?   Do we use them to keep score?  Sometimes the numbers pump us up and sometimes they are one more way we measure ourselves against the rest of the world and see ourselves as falling short.  Maybe our co-worker has more Facebook friends or a blog we admire has a huge following and we feel like we’re never going to get there.  We see celebrities losing an amazing amount of weight and wonder why we’re unable to duplicate the results.  Numbers can be tough.  They’re hard to argue with.

Even so,  I admit it.  I’m a numbers junkie.   The 2nd thing I do every morning is step on the scale.   I know, the experts say you shouldn’t weigh yourself every day, but it helps keep me on track—or get back on track.  If the number drops it encourages me to keep it up.  If it goes up I know I have to try harder.

It’s probably my competitive nature, but I also know all the numbers related to my online presence.  How many sales in my Etsy shop, how many hits on my blog, how many fans on my page, etc.  I don’t obsess over them but I am aware.

On days when my knees and back are aching I feel old.  And, this fall as I head back to school as a 45 year old student (again) I will feel old amid the 20-somethings.  But when I get carded buying beer or when someone is shocked that I have a 20 year old child, suddenly I feel young again.

I don’t believe numbers should define us.  I think they merely describe where we are in a snapshot of time.   The best part about numbers….like everything else, they tend to change.