Music Monday: May, Thanks!

Wow, how sad is it that I'm having a hard time remembering good stuff that happened in May? The month shot by so fast I'm barely registering the fact that it's June now.

Alrighty, time to put on my thinking cap, 'cause here we go...

May, Thanks!

1) Thanks to the commitment to saving money, which helped me buy a new purse.

2) Thanks to men who know how to jackhammer a basement, drill holes in each cinder block, install a drainage system and hook up a sump pump.

3) Thanks to the office manager who works with those guys for giving me a $25 discount because of the light bulb they broke and the door frame they busted up.

4) Thanks to a reasonably cool start to summer.

5) Thanks to the note taking app on my phone for helping me keep track of my daily you-must-leave-the-house jaunts.

6) Thanks to Lila, my car, for still running after 15 years.

7) Thanks to my ever growing gardening skills for giving me onions and fresh basil.

8) Thanks to Tummy Drops for keeping my sensitive stomach happy.

9) Thanks to online clothes shopping.

10) Thanks to therapy.

OK, that was actually easier than I thought it'd be!







What good stuff happened to you in May?

Happy Friday: Cleanin' House

Well, this has been a productive time for me. I got an article written today, ran some errands and (this is a biggie) cleaned out my closets and cabinets and bins.

Oh, Lordy! I've got seven bags of clothes, shoes, purses, belts, jackets, kitchen goods and old magazines to take to the Goodwill tomorrow. It feels good. I was holding on to all these clothes that I haven't been able to fit into in nine years. Purses I was keeping because someone gave them to me as gifts. Magazines I never got around to reading. Shoes I thought I would wear, that I never wore.

This is so much better.

Also, with the exception of yesterday when it was raining, I went somewhere every day. So, I'm breaking through this agoraphobia day by day.

That? So. Much. Better.

What's happening online nowadays...

1) The truth about fear from the woman who runs Facebook. If fear is keeping you from doing anything you want to do, read this.

2) “Life really begins when you have discovered that you can do anything you want.” - William J. Reilly

3) Any ladies who need some encouragement/tips for traveling alone should check out The Gypsy Gals.

4) Everyone needs to relax and distress. Here's some help if you need it.

5) Don't think you're not an expert at anything just because you don't have a degree in it. You just need to figure out what kind of expert you are.

6) Finally, 40 cats who suck at hide-and-seek.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Tuesday Tip Day: Surviving The Suck Cluster

Julia's been there. We've ALL been there.

Sometimes life is pretty good. You like your job, you make good money, you have fun with your friends and stay healthy and happy.

But, you know, every now and then (or maybe more frequently than that) you feel fortunes turning against you. Everything seems off, wrong or downright bad and sad and hard to get through.

You know it when it happens.

You can tell it's coming.

You've hit what I like to call The Suck Cluster.

Unfortunately, I'm in one of these right now, and really? I've been in it since 2009. Sure, I've got a job that's going well now, so some of the pressure is off. But life has felt like a long bout of one-step-forward-two-steps-back for years.

Most recently? HUBS and I realized that our house is falling apart around us (rotten bathroom floor, rotten sill plate, flooding basement, screwed up kitchen...) and can no longer wait to be fixed. I'm having some mental issues that are affecting normal...marital functioning. My mom called me crying last week because her aunt (who she'd gotten very close to since my grandmother passed) is dying. And, on Friday, I fell down my basement stairs and needed x-rays and a few days of recovery to feel just somewhat back to normal.

Yeah, welcome to my Suck Cluster.

As with most things in life, what really matters is how you handle stuff when your own personal Suck Cluster comes calling. Here are some things that can help you navigate the tough times.

Surviving The Suck Cluster

1) Rest: You might be sad or depressed a lot from feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders. The best thing to do? NOTHING. Sleep later, nap when you need to, lay around and read, watch a funny movie...Do whatever you need to in order to relieve the pressure. If you're a control freak or simply like making plans and getting things done it'll probably be hard but you'll need to reign those tendencies in a bit to get through without wearing yourself out.

2) Do A Little Something: Whatever the issue (dying relative, illness, injury, house foundation that's rotting away under your feet...) you'll need to get something done or decided on a regular basis so you feel like you're taking care of things. For me that means seeing my therapist every two or three weeks, taking my meds, checking up on my mom and slowly re-tiling my new bathroom floor, among other things.

3) Talk: If you keep the suckiness bottled up inside it'll fester, I honestly believe that. This is what friends, therapists, spouses, parents and journals (no, those don't involve talking, but they work all the same) are for. Get all the crap that's happening and your feelings about it out so you can get on with your life. Ruminating does no one any good; it will stop numbers 1 & 2 in their tracks so that you simply can't make progress or relax. The last thing you need added to your Suck Cluster is a panic attack or worry-related sleep deprivation.

4) Release: Prepare yourself. There is no anger like the anger of a Suck Cluster. With every disappointment and bad thing that comes your way in quick succession, you WILL feel like the universe is piling on for no good reason. You're being punished. You've been forsaken. Whatever sentiment the anger is related to, you need to get that aggressive energy out before you explode all over someone who doesn't deserve it. Exercise, watch violent movies, cheer audibly as terrorists die...figure out what works and do it as often as possible.

5) Remember: If you're online a lot, and most of us are now, it can seem like you're the only one having any problems. Well, you're not. Never have been and never will be. Simply keeping that in mind can help with number 4.

YOU'RE NOT BEING PUNISHED OR TARGETED, YOU'RE JUST ALIVE. AND, WHEN YOU'RE ALIVE SHIT HAPPENS. SOMETIMES, ALL AT ONCE.

You'll deal. Because you can. Because you have to. Because, even if you don't know it, you WANT to.

What do you do when everything seems to go wrong at once?

April, Thanks!

This isn't a thank you, just some sad news about a young dude.

We have had a lot of stuff going on over here. We've have to go down the home repair rabbit hole to fix our toilet and the rotten floor underneath. The roof needed some work, our basement is going to have to be torn up and we've found out that most of our kitchen is fucked.

I've been having a lot of days where I feel like I'm on the verge of a panic attack for hours and hours at a time, so I really need to think about what I'm thankful for in April. Can I come up with at least five things? Let's see...

April, Thanks!

1) Thanks to brand new cat mothers for coming back to our yard and getting their newborn so HUBS and I didn't have to try taking care of it.

2) Thanks to getting paid so I can help buy groceries and pay for home repairs.

3) Thanks to motivation for helping me finally get my sister-in-law's article written.

4) Thanks to the universe for making sure we looked into the toilet issue before it fell into the basement with someone sitting on it.

5) Thanks to donuts.

6) Thanks to chocolate.

7) Thanks to work I can do at any time of day or night.

8) Thanks to soap operas for making sure I know that life could be much worse without anyone actually having to suffer and me feeling guilty for being glad I don't have someone else's problems.

9) Thanks to the piles of magazines around my home for helping me see that I subscribe to way too many of them.

10) Thanks to my local libraries for helping me read, listen to music and watch cable TV and movies without having to spend any money.

Look at that. I made it all the way to ten!

What good stuff happened to you in April?

Happy Friday: Set It Off

I just wrote three articles back to back and now, I'm wiped. So, let's get to the good stuff!

1) Three guys got kicked out of Saudi Arabia for being too good looking. Yes, that happened.

2) A cat dressed as a shark riding a Roomba chasing a duckling. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS!!

3) My cat is a dick, but, aren't they all?

4) It's the little things that matter when you're already having a shitty day.

5) English. Taught by bunnies.

Have a great weekend!

Recent Obsessions: Podcast Mania!

This photo has nothing to do with my post. Don't judge, it's almost the weekend and I'm gettin' antsy!

I love my new job. It tends, though, to be research and email heavy. This means that if I don't watch it while I'm working I'll basically fall into a meditative-like trance that numbs my mind.

What's been my savior the past few weeks? Podcasts!

I've been hearing about these things for years, but had never listened to one. But then, back in January, I found Girl on Guy, a podcast from comedian and talk show host Aisha Tyler.

I was immediately addicted.

There are literally tons of podcasts out there, but here are the ones keeping me sane as I research my days away.

1) Girl on Guy: Funny, profane, insightful discussions with Tyler and a host of actors, comedians, chefs and other public figures.

2) The Mental Illness Happy Hour: Oh. My. God. Anyone dealing with any kid of mental issue (depression, panic disorders, sexual dysfunction, schizophrenia...) or dealing with someone else who has mental issues WILL FIND SOMEONE ON THIS PODCAST WHO HAS SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I think this podcast is really important for people who feel fucked up, alone and unsolvable.

3) By the Way: One of the best parts of this podcast is listening to host Jeff Garlin's insane laugh as he talks to famous friends. The episode with Conan O'Brien is a hit.

I have to say, one of the best parts about these conversations is hearing how accomplished people (many of whom had horrible backgrounds or are living with psychological troubles) got to where they are and hearing about their creative process.

Here's another list of the podcasts I'm hoping to get into soon.

1) Nerdist
2) Star Talk Radio Show (what can I say, I'm an astronomy/physics geek)
3) Channel Surfing (I'm also a TV geek)
4) WTF with Marc Maron

Give some of these links a try when you have a tedious task to complete or even when nothing good is on TV. You won't be disappointed.

Happy Friday: Note To Self

Note To Self

OK, girl, you're too old for this crap. Stop it! Food and eating are not magical mysteries to you.

Stop eating breakfast hours after you wake up!

And, stop eating weird crap like onion rings and lasagna for lunch!

Today's lunch gave you indigestion, are you happy with that? OF COURSE YOU AREN'T! So, you know, get your shit together, already!

Alright, it's internet awesome time. Let's go!

1) I wrote about solo travel this week. Here are some more tips and stories from around the web.

2) I've gone podcast crazy over here, and Podcast Gallery can help you find, listen to and save the ones you want.

3) If you're already itching for summer to get here, why not try out this 140 song Summer Music Playlist assembled by Reddit users to take yourself away?

4) Looking for a job or new career path? Read How To Pick A Career You'll Like.

5) If you want to store sensitive files in the cloud but are worried about keeping those things private, here's a guide to free, and easy to use, encryption software.

Tuesday Tipday: How To Travel Alone

While I can admit that I don't exactly live for adventure, I have done some things in my day. Something I still count as a major accomplishment are the times, in 2005, that I braved my nerves, boarded airplanes and traveled to places I'd never before been...totally alone.

I didn't backpack through India, or do anything quite that impressive, but when it comes to doing new things we all have to start somewhere. Really, if someone as cynical, quiet and fear-filled as me can travel solo, so can you. If you've wanted to make a lone travel trek, but haven't been able to get up the nerve, here's what you need to know.

How To Travel Alone

1) Focus is helpful. My family took occasional vacations when I was a kid, but by the time I was 31, I still had a LONG list of places I wanted to see. When the whole world is an option (Or, really, the whole country. Traveling abroad cost more than I was willing to put on credit!), how do you narrow the possibilities down? I say, follow your hobbies. Something I'd always wanted to do was go to the Sundance Film Festival. So, my first solo trip was to Park City, Utah during the final weekend of the festival. Roger Ebert passed me on the street! I went to a party with Jennifer Jason Leigh!

If you enjoy yoga, find a retreat in a city you'd like to visit. Maybe you're a writer, if so, get thee to a conference. The best part about this method is that not only do you get to see new places, but you automatically surround yourself with people who share interests with you. And this makes some of the strangers in your midst EASIER TO TALK TO. Score!

2) Make yourself talk to strangers. I managed to socialize a bit at Sundance and during my trip to SXSW a couple of months later. But, mostly, I spent time exploring on my own because I'm good at being alone. I wanted to broaden my horizons, though. So, what did I do? I went to Las Vegas...and volunteered at the CineVegas Film Festival.

If there's a better way to connect with people who'll share your interests and force yourself to converse with them, I don't know what it is. During my seven-day-stay I got rides to and from my hotel from a former showgirl who'd become a real estate agent, went to a burlesque show with a director, his actor friend and another festival volunteer, and party hopped with yet another volunteer who hooked up with a now famous actor. I had an adventure! I'm sure it's possible to do that without hanging out with others, but it's probably not as much fun.

3) Be safe, not scared. I never would have had as much fun as I did had I not taken some chances. The key is simply to keep your wits about you, asses all situations/new people and don't be afraid to hurt someone's feelings if you believe you need to bail out. Some additional things to think about:

a) Keep your cell phone charged and handy. Maybe even put 911 on speed dial.
b) Ladies, if you need to carry a purse, make it one that closes fully and either fits snugly under your arm or allows you to carry it crossbody in front of you, so you always have an eye on it.
c) Consider a money belt. Withdraw the cash you'll need for the day and store it in a front pocket to eliminate the need to root around in your bag. Put your debit/credit card and a photocopy of your id in the money belt, and wear it under your clothes while you're out. This might be TMI, but I always put mine inside my pants and panties, that way if it comes unbuckled (never happened, by the way) it will stay snugly against my body and not fall out a pant leg.
d) Use common sense and trust your gut. No drinking more booze than you can handle or taking drinks from strangers who are not tending bar. Try not to walk around alone, at night in unpopulated areas. If you simple have to? Carry your keys/mace in your hand, ready to be used as a weapon if needed; walk speedily with your head up and with purpose. Folks will be less likely to mess with you if you look like you know where you're going and will take NO SHIT from random people.
e) Keep your car doors locked and don't roll non-driver windows down so much that someone could reach in and open a door on you.
f) Secure your hotel door. I braced mine with a chair, but that was before this or this.

That's it! Follow your passion to someplace cool, stay safe and have fun!

How have you traveled safely while alone?

Happy Friday! What Have I Done For Me, Lately?

I know Easter's been over for almost a week, but this video of a baby bunny eating and cleaning its face is AWESOME.


It occurred to me that since we're in the fourth month of the year, I should probably take a look back at the massive list of goals I set for myself in January and see how I'm doing. What have I managed so far?

Accomplishments: Jan-April 2013

1) I'm making $ writing again!
2) I tried a podcast!
3) I check my professional email daily!
4) I add my blog posts to Twitter & Blogaholic!
5) I've left some food behind at a restaurant!
6) I limit pre-5pm TV watching to two hours daily Mon-Fri!
7) I'm practicing reading faster!
8) I hang out on our deck!
9) I've (almost) mastered winged eyeliner!

OK, so, nine out of 76 items isn't exactly an example of me going gang-busters on my goals, but getting a job was HUGE FOR ME. Plus, I'm sorta counting the things I'd starting doing (like blogging three times a week, making honest work of my creative ideas and working away from home) which I've fallen behind on since my gainful employment.

And, also? I'm trying not to be too hard on myself about not being further along.

I've got time, and I think the best thing to do would be to keep my lists on my desktop so I can have constant reminders of what's important to me this year.

Now, let's move on to some cool internet stuff and remember to tell me: How are your 2013 goals progressing so far?

1) I do love me some Tina Belcher.

2) EW.com thinks they've found the 21 most annoying TV characters of all time. Do you agree?

3) RIP Roger Ebert. Here are 20 of his best movie pans.

4) If you like free music, here are the best places to get it online.

5) Finally, if you need to distress this weekend, there are some apps that can help you.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Music Monday: March, Thanks!

It's hard to believe that a week ago there was over a foot of snow on the ground in Missouri. Well, Spring's a-sprung for now and here's what made me happy in March.

March, Thanks!

1) Thanks to the Sandman for helping me get 12 hours of sleep I didn't know I needed on Friday night.

2) Thanks to my niece for sharing some of her Easter candy with me.

3) Thanks to my sister-in-law for being patient with me and the project I'm working on for her since I got my job.

4) Thanks to my hair for annoying me less as it continues to revert to its natural state.

5) Thanks to Avon for having stylish, and yet fairly cheap shoes.

6) Thanks to the USPS for delivering my first new-job paycheck.

7) Thanks to the creative genius who invented the fantasy genre for keeping my reading life interesting.

8) Thanks to the magic combo of natural peanut butter, honey & cinnamon for being great on toast or animal crackers.

9) Thanks to recyclebank.com for allowing me to subscribe to way too many magazines for totally free.

10) Thanks to turkey cutlets for being an awesome substitute for fried chicken.

Enough about me, let's enjoy some tunes...

Happy Friday: A Creative Realization

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

I had an interesting epiphany last night. I was tired and had drug myself to the shower after a long-ish day.

While I was in there my mind started to wander. I was thinking about creativity and what it takes to risk failure or embarrassment in the effort to have your voice heard, and something came to me. This might be something everyone else has known since the beginning of time, but it just occurred to me. And the thought is going a long way to quelling my creative fears.

No matter what you create, someone will hate it.

That's it. Do you see how freeing that is? Whatever creative thing you put into the world: novel, poem, painting, TV show, movie, dress design, textile pattern...SOMEONE WILL HATE IT.

Do you know what this means? It means we have no excuses. There's no point in worrying about how what you need to do (write, paint, design, etc.) will be received. You already know, upfront, that somebody is bound to hate it.

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS CREATE, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, AND THINK ABOUT HOW TO LET THE PEOPLE WHO WILL CONNECT WITH OUR WORK FIND IT.

Because, just as sure that there will be people who'll hate what we do, there will also be people who love it, need it and want more of it.

That makes me feel good.

And slightly less scared to try.

Now that we're all relaxed, let's enjoy ourselves a little...

1) Photo buffs should check out the National Geographic tumblr. It's filled with rare pics, most of which have never been published. Much like The New York Times one from a few months ago.

2) Andy Dwyer. So dumb, and yet so awesome.

3) Some animals live a scary, freaky, long-ass time!

4) Want to grow your blog, business or brand without immersing yourself in a lot of expensive classes? Alt Summit can help for much less.

5) I've never read a Stephen King book, but I might read this one.

Enjoy your weekends, everyone!

If My House Were Burning

I know it's horrible to think of. Losing most or all of the things you've worked hard for over your life would be a shitty, shitty thing.

This used to be something I never thought of. But, as HUBS and I accumulated cats, it occurred to me that if there were a flame-related disaster (or disaster of any kind, really) we'd have the responsibility of getting our furry friends to safety. And that, in turn, made me think of what else I'd feel the need to salvage and how I'd do it in a short span of time.

So, here it is. My disaster plan...

In Case Of Emergency

1) Hopefully we'll notice the fire while it's small. One of us can call 911 and work on it with our extinguisher while the other herds the cats into our two carriers and gets them to one of our cars.

2) I'd really want my laptop and external hard drive safe, so I'd head for these next.

3) My cameras. Oh, Lord, my cameras. I have three that I feel are absolutely necessary to have and another three that would be nice to have.

4) I have an amazing number of notebooks and journals around the house. Not to mention a few books I'd be a little sad to lose.

5) I figure items 2 through 4 could fit in our two laundry baskets which we keep in the office. Load 'em up and get out.

While I realize that our lives are WAY more important than any of the inanimate objects mentioned, I like having a relatively simple, mini-plan in my mind. I think, between HUBS and I, we could get this done in less than 10 minutes, get to our cars and to some semblance of safety while waiting for the fire department.

What do you think? What would you save if you had to abandon your home?

Good Problems To Have

Ah, the '70s...

I don't think I've ever had this much trouble fitting my life stuff into my work day. I've got a friend I haven't called back in two weeks, a stove that needs cleaning, three writing projects waiting for my attention, groceries that need to be bought, blogs I haven't caught up on, my own blog I'm barely writing. The list is really non-the-fuck-stop.

And yet...

It feels really good to have this issue. I'm busy! I have irons in the fire! I have a little bit of a life that's more than fuzzy dreams and wishes.

I know a lot of people have WAY more stressful jobs than I do and have A LOT more difficulty organizing their non-work lives. I figure I need to do about four things to really get this down to a science...

1) Start going to bed at a reasonable hour.

2) Start waking up at a reasonable hour.

3) Figure out when I'm doing work stuff and stick to it.

4) Start working somewhere other than my house every day.

While it's true that I'm getting my work done, it's also true I'm developing some kooky life habits around that work. I think my naughty subconscious might be trying to chip away at me.

I'M NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN.

I'm going to sleep well, wake up fresh, do my yoga, have my breakfast and set this bitch on fire!

Happy Friday: Working For The Weekend! When I Will Also Be Working!

But, don't cry for me, Argentina. I still have one story to write for the new job before Monday, but you know what's cool about having a gig where you write stories and send emails from home? You can literally do it any time of the day or night!

I'm taking a break to eat a super-late lunch and blog, since I haven't done it since Monday...Blog, that is. I've been eating just fine, thank you!

I've also been doing pretty good at the job. I'm getting the hang of procedures and using their online ordering system to gather info for stories. I even got two interview responses this week, which I was told likely wouldn't happen so soon. Score!

I hope you've all had a lovely week, as well. I'll be catching up on your blogs this weekend. Now, let's see what's happening online.


1) 38 fascinating maps that detail everything from what the world's population would look like if it were concentrated in one city, to every country that ever got invaded by England and the US area codes in which the rapper Ludacris claims to have "hoes".

2) If you need a laugh try giphy. Just scroll over your choice to see a variety of animated gifs.

3) Speaking of gifs, this tumblr uses them to tell a comical New York based life story.

4) All you writers out there should find Writing a Scene in 11 Steps and 60 NaNoWriMo tips useful.

5) For everyone with multiple, hard-to-monitor-them-all email addresses, Mailstrom might be the answer for you.

Whoa. That's all for me. I need to rest up and goof off this weekend. It's nice to have something to step away from on weekends, right?

Music Monday: February, Thanks!

Well, 2013 is moving right along, ain't she? Things are looking up for me, and I hope, for you too.

February, Thanks!

1) Thanks to the job gods for hooking me up.

2) Thanks to free workouts on HULU for making it easier for me to get in shape.

3) Thanks to tax refunds for helping us fix our plumbing.

4) Thanks to good plumbers.

5) Thanks to coffee for keeping my mornings grumpy-almost-middle-aged-lady free.

6) Thanks to chips, cheese and salsa for making me happy when I don't feel like cooking.

7) Thanks to HUBS for cleaning the kitchen LIKE A BOSS.

8) Thanks to HUBS for working his geek computer magic and getting more memory on my smart phone.

9) Thanks to GetGlue for making tv/movie watching even more fun.

10) Thanks to washing machines for seeing to it that I've never had to beat dirty clothes against a rock by a stream.

11) Thanks to eshakti.com for extending the discount code from last week. It's now good through 3/20/13!

This is a very good list, if I do say so myself! Now, let's dance!









What made you happy in February?

Happy Friday: 7 Things I'm Bad At That Don't Matter

...

I had a semi-crappy week. As such, I need to remind myself that I'm not actually bad at everything, it just seems that way sometimes. Also, not all of the things I'm bad at are life-destroying. Here's my list of stuff I suck at that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

7 Things I'm Bad At That Don't Matter

1) Brushing my teeth. Of course I'm good at brushing my teeth, technically. I'm just really, really messy at it. The toothpaste foam that forms dribbles down my chin and usually lands on my shirt. I often walk around while I brush and frequently find dried toothpaste spray around the house on mirrors, TVs, counters, tables, walls...You get it. Messy!

2) Reading books/magazines. I subscribe to seven magazines. Most of them sit in un-presentable stacks around the house for WAY longer than a month. I also have a book buying sickness, which I think I've finally kicked, but it's lead me to having a house filled with tomes I've owned for a few years but haven't even cracked the spines on.

3) Checking emails. I have three email accounts: one for family/friends and serious personal business, one for applying for jobs and one for entering contests and other crap. I can go a few days without checking any of them. Then I end up with 700 unread emails and freak the fuck out, do better for a bit and then fall behind again. Oh, well. No one's dying from this one.

4) Skipping dessert. Only happens if I'm sick or so full I might get sick if I inhale one more might. As far as vices go? Not horrible.

5) Waking up early. I fucking hate it. End. Of. Story.

6) Fixing my hair. I have no appreciable skills in this area. I would much rather wear a scarf or hat all day, every day. So, I frequently do.

7) Drinking hooch. One drink and I'm done. And it better basically taste like Kool-Aid, or I'm out. I didn't even start to get a taste for sugary, pansy-assed mixed drinks until about 12 years after I turned 21. I've never been drunk and likely never will be. I can go for several months without having any kind of booze, and I'm totally OK with that.

There's my list. Now? Internet!

1) X-Men Muppets? Yes!

2) Age, dammit! AGE!

3) People who do amazing things only have one different trait from those who don't. Simple as that.

4) Caffrey the cat only has two legs. I love him.

5) This is just fun. Also, it involves cats, so, you know, there's my wheelhouse!

That's all for me. Let me know, what are you bad at that doesn't matter?

Music Monday: January, Thanks!

Ok. So, that was January. Not bad. Got some things done. Fell behind on some others. Learned some things, made some plans. All in all, I do have some things to be grateful for.

January, Thanks!

1) Thanks to laying out some clear plans for things I wanted to get done.

2) Thanks to learning that change isn't as easy as making plans.

3) Thanks to the wisdom of an ear, nose & throat doctor.

4) Thanks to my plush eye mask for sealing out light while I slept on the couch.

5) Thanks to a shelf full of crappy bath towels for being available to wipe up plumbing mishaps.

6) Thanks to free therapy.

7) Thanks to macaroni & cheese for keeping me happy on cold nights.

8) Thanks to yoga for being there when I need it.

9) Thanks to half.com for making reasonably priced gifts a possibility.

10) Thanks to Halls cough drops, tissues, cold medicine and my sinus rinse for getting me healthy sooner.

Hey, that's kind of a lot. Not bad, right? Now, let's stop talking about me and entertain you!









What are you thankful for in January?

5 Foods I'm Clearly Addicted To

I like to eat. It's that simple. As much as I know I need to watch what I eat (and I try to), I just really, really love me some F.O.O.D.

Whenever I'm trying not to eat like a pig, these are the foods that can seriously trip me up.

5 Foods I'm Clearly Addicted To

1) Potatoes. My initial instinct is to blame my mom for this one. Apparently, while PT was preggers with me, there was a period of time where she could only eat potatoes without getting sick. Of course, I realize that means it was my fault she could only ingest potatoes and not her fault that I'm addicted to potatoes. Really, any form of tater is good for me. Fries, baked, gratin, mashed...Fried. I had a lightening bolt moment a couple of weeks ago. HUBS makes this thing he calls Crazy Potatoes; he nukes about 6 or 7 of them, mashes them up and adds a shit load of butter and sour cream. As you can imagine, they are really good. One night I was eating these taters off the communal plate and it hit me that I'd probably had 4 whole potatoes. No one needs that many in one sitting as a side dish to dinner! What was I doing?! So, I've stopped eating the Crazy Potatoes. Luckily, it's not as hard as I thought it was going to be.

2) Bread. My God. This is really all I need. Some veggies and a crapper load of bread and I've got myself a meal. I'm open to any variety except rye and black. And, because of that, I had to reign myself in several years ago. I try to stick to 4 pieces of bread a day or less. That includes bagels, cornbread, rolls, crackers, pitas, and flatbreads. Keeping my bread desires tamped down is a lot harder than my need for potatoes, but we all have our crosses to bear.

3) Cheese. I used to stick with American, mozzarella and cheddar. Then I discovered Colby, Monterey jack and pepper jack. Now I also eat provolone, gouda, fontina and specialty cheeses mixed with berries or rosemary or nuts. God! The shit is just good. It literally makes everything better. My hips are probably made of 50 percent cheese. And, honestly? I'm OK with that.

4) Chocolate. This must be an age thing. I was fine with chocolate when I was young, but I wasn't crazy for it. When I was a teen I craved sweets but never chocolate specifically. Then I moved out of my mom's place after college and discovered chocolate chips melted with peanut butter. That was all it took for me to have occasional moments where I space out and daydream of eating my way out of a vat of warm, melted chocolate with a box of vanilla wafers to scoop the sweet stuff up. This is the number one reason I started exercising again; so I can continue eating this insane level of chocolate without getting diabetes. Oh, yes.

5) Dessert. Speaking of sweets...Know what I used to do? As a kid, I'd wait until my dad was at work and my mom was asleep. I'd sneak into the kitchen, get the cream cheese out of the fridge, set myself up next to the sugar bowl on the table and stick thinly sliced bits of cheese into the sugar and eat them. That, my friends, is a dangerous sweet tooth. Let's understand, I don't consider fruit dessert. I can eat fruit for an after dinner snack, but it's not the same. Dessert must be ooey, gooey and bad for me in order for me to consider it true dessert. Give me your cakes and pies, your muffins and scones, your donuts and cookies. I will eat them and have fruit some other time.

What foods are you addicted to?

Happy Friday! It's OK

As you can see from my posts this week, I've got a shit-ton of stuff planned for this year. Mostly I did pretty well integrating new things in. I worked away from home twice this week, sent a blog query to an entertainment website, dressed better in public and got some preliminary research done on some of my other goals.

I did fall behind today, though, but that's OK, especially since I know why. I've got three things left on the last to-do list I made for this week. One thing I just keep forgetting to do, one thing that will be time consuming and one thing that scares the crap out of me. I'm going to resolve, right now, to take care of the scary thing right away Monday morning. It's going right after peeing and feeding the cats so I can't keep putting it off. Besides, if I get it done early I won't have to think about this particular duty for another week, so that'll be handy.

Now, let's look around online and see what interesting stuff we can find.

1) I've got a new addiction that's making it hard to get work done. Actress/comedian Aisha Tyler has a geeky podcast called girl on guy that is filling my bunny. She talks to various entertainment types about being in the business, motivating yourself and other things a lot of folks (including me) really need to hear.

2) You all seem like smart, capable people. I'm sure you know that using crystal meth is a bad idea. These photos show just how bad an idea that is. It's just pictures of faces, but the destruction is stunning.

3) Many of us enjoy the occasional cocktail. Alie & Georgia are funny ladies who wear cute clothes and show you how to make fun drinks at home.

4) Ever wait in line for what feels like an hour or more only to realize it's been 10 minutes? Here's why the wait seems soooooo looooooonnngggg.

5) Already wavering on your resolutions? These tips might help you make them stick.

That's all for me this Friday. I'm going to think over my week, enjoy the Golden Globes for once and catch up on my reading. Enjoy!

38 Professional Things For 2013

I'm getting better at getting things done that matter, you guys. It's exciting and scary for me. It means that I'm finally moving forward with things that are important to me. But, it also means I'm getting closer to having to do things that, while important, will scare the shit out of me.

I spent about a half hour today adding the monthly and weekly duties I've given myself to the calendar on my phone. It's all planned out. Did you hear that? My days have plans now. And that, in and of itself, freaks my shit out a bit. I'm just gonna keep on rollin', though. Here's my list of professional goals I worked on over the weekend. Let me know what you think!

38 Professional Things For 2013

1) Make $ writing
2) Try a podcast
3) Write a book proposal
4) Send it out
5) Enter writing contests
6) Make honest work of my ideas
7) Write at least 1 hour daily
8) License photos online
9) Enter photo contests
10) Put profiles on professional sites
11) Send at least 4 queries monthly
12) Get my photos in a gallery
13) Write to authors whose books I enjoy
14) Shop at least 1 screenplay to agents
15) Blog at least 3 times weekly
16) Comment on other blogs 1 day weekly
17) Add posts to Pinterest
18) Revisit Flickr
19) Network at least 1 time monthly
20) Dress better in public
21) Go to a reading, talk to the author
22) Make sure all profiles/resumes are up to date
23) Send photos to PopCandy
24) Photoblog 3 times weekly
25) Submit blog photos to photo challenges
26) Keep up with film/screenwriting business 1 time weekly
27) Look into cat colony
28) Volunteer 2 times monthly
29) Take a film class
30) Check pro email daily
31) Keep up with freelance business info 1 time weekly
32) Make consulting calls/emails for 3 businesses weekly
33) Apply for 3 part-time jobs weekly
34) Ask John August a question
35) Add photoblog/blog posts to Twitter
36) Add posts to Blogaholic
37) Find a mentor
38) Take a writing class

I know. This combined with the personal list is a lot of stuff. I need this, though; to dive in the deep end and stop waiting for life to find me.

Tell me, what are your professional goals this year?