Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Love Letters to Strangers

I'm going to give this a try.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Independent Quitters


Working (AKA - Volunteering) for non-profits is a tough gig. People are often quick to criticize you, the hours are usually on the weekends, it's sometimes hard work that no one will help you with and it's thankless. It's hard to keep volunteers motivated.

I have gotten involved with several non-profits because I felt their mission aligned with what I believed in. It is disheartening when you find that's not exactly the case. Several of my friends have tossed in the towel and called it quits. Their skin had become thin and they were not willing to take on all the crap that comes with the work. Though, I don't know that you really "quit" a non-profit. It's not like you were getting paid to help. Quitting really means you are just not showing up anymore for meetings.

I understand their feelings but I don't agree with quitting. If you say you want to make a difference, and then aren't willing to toe the line when push comes to shove, are you really wanting to make a difference or is it only on your terms? What I've learned over the years is that life is all about the compromises. It's rarely about you wanting to do it your way or no way.

My friend's decision to quit is disappointing. They all have something to offer, yet are stubborn and feel they will continue on by themselves. I don't want to tell them that life doesn't work like that. There's strength in numbers and no one person can do what many together can accomplish. I wish they could put their differences aside, communicate better, and learn to compromise - or at least listen with open ears. No one wins when everyone works independently. Well, maybe their egos win.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Shame Posters

Have you seen the dog shame photos? They are funny.

Here are a few of my own.



Monday, August 6, 2012

Poster Series?


I've tossed around the idea of doing a poster series with my dog photography. I will need to come up with some quotes of my own if I get serious about this project.


Friday, August 3, 2012

Losers

I will never understand liars. To tell half truths, blatant lies, or lies by omission takes such effort, is very self-serving, and only hurts people in the end. What's the point? Grow up. Be straight with people. Gently, tell it like it is. Don't play mind games. No one appreciates being lied to. This act is a nonrecoverable in my book because all trust is broken. Liars are Losers. Hmm. I need to make bumper stickers. BRB.

Monday, July 30, 2012

The Glow

As I hang up the phone with a good friend who is moving on to take another job, I pause for a minute to think about friends. I have been really fortunate to call a core group of people close friends. People who make me laugh. People I trust. People who would never let me down. Those that are honest and true to themselves. Fair. Respectful. Caring, passionate individuals who are never too "busy." Then, I think about my friend starting a new chapter in her life and all the uncertainty that is involved with changing jobs. I smile softly. We've laughed so hard tears have spilled out. We stood next to each other and silently cried at a flag ceremony on 9/11. We cooed to her newborn son at the hospital. We mourned over her separation and later divorce. And today, we celebrated her good news together. I've decided that it's not the adventure that counts. No, not at all. It is not the fancy vacation, the sports car you bought on impulse, the pickles you canned, or the beer you got on sale. It is not the new purse you proudly sling, the yacht that takes you sailing, or the carpets you just cleaned. It is the people...that matter. The people who share these experiences with us; those we call our friends. For without these friends, our memories are like empty mason jars just waiting for the glow of the fireflies to be added.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Susie the Circus Dog

"Just Breathe"


My new, favorite song is surprisingly Willie Nelson singing "Just Breathe." Sung with his son Lukas, it's a great remake from Pearl Jam. I love the lyrics coupled with the gravely voice of Nelson. It's a perfect pairing.

Take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBg7Aj6PJko&feature=related

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

The Registry


I went to the mall last night to buy a present off a baby registry. It's been a long time since I've been to the mall to really shop. I'd rather have my teeth drilled without the pleasure of a numbing shot than shop at a mall. I digress...

I could not find anyone around to help me locate the items on the registry. Are baby lamps in lighting because they sure didn't seem to be in the baby clothing section? Apparently, Tuesday nights are slow. This big name department store employs all of four people. I mill around for 30 minutes and finally settled for whatever I can find on the registry.

I went to pay for the items with the registry in hand gave it to the clerk. She rang up the items and I said, "Did you scan the registry so they show as being purchased?" "No, we don't do that." "You don't do that? I don't understand. What do you mean?" "I haven't seen a registry here in a long time." "So, you are unable to record these items as being purchased?" "Let me call my supervisor." I turn away and start to get fidgety. Did I mention that I hate malls?

Meanwhile, a young, cute couple comes up to the cashier with several items. They have a coupon on their smart phone they'd like to have scanned. I smile at them while thinking, "yeah, good luck with that."

The phone rings. I assume it's her supervisor but she's busy ringing up the young couple's clothes I'm not sure she's going to pick up the phone. On the last ring, she snatches the phone off the receiver, answers it, and then flings the phone over to me. "Talk to her. I'm busy." I'm taken back a little and stammer, "Hello? Yes, I have several items off a baby registry that I'd like to purchase and have them recorded on the registry." I hang up the phone. "She's coming down," I said. I look at the  young couple. Not surprising, she can't get the scanner to recognize the bar code on their smart phone for the $10 coupon. I think...$10 coupon! I need a smart phone - maybe it would pay for itself?

The supervisor arrives. She starts messing with the computer on the cash register. There's a lot of button pushing and reading out numbers going on. I turn away again. Geez, maybe this isn't really all that important? "We need to ring up the items as an exchange, take them off, and then reenter the purchases." "Do you have your original receipt?" "Um, yes," I said as I pulled it out of the bag.

As the woman is re-ringing the items up, the supervisor moves over to help the young couple who are now entwined in each other arms and kissing. They apparently have no phobias of malls. The manager enters the long number on the smart phone's coupon. Success. A receipt curls out of the register, she thanks them, and they are off, arm-in-arm.

"I can't get this to work. We don't see too many of these gift registries anymore." I wanted to say, "Really? Because I thought the problem was that you don't DO that anymore." I resisted the urge to get snippy.

After fumbling around, reading numbers, pushing buttons, and scanning bar codes, a receipt finally spits out, is stapled to the original receipt, and I'm on my way. Success!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Brené Brown on TED

https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame.html

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Expectations

If you've always done if for someone, they will come to expect it and never learn to do it themselves. Letting someone fail or succeed on their own, in order to learn, is not always a bad thing.

I need to remind myself of this periodically by taking a huge step back. And just observe. It's hard for me. I like to control situations - or at least steer them to succeed.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Geez, What's in Your Purse? It's so Heavy?

My purse took a field trip with my hubby in his car. I have no money - no cash, no credit cards...nothing. No phone, no sunglasses, no reading glasses, no office keys, no car key (but I have a back up), no lipstick, no comb, and no advil.

So picture this...

I'm squinting inside my office (our secretary let me in) while hunched over clutching my sore back trying to jimmy the lock on my desk open. I don't want to have to ask my coworkers for change to get a soda. I look like a just woke up. My hair is all windblown and I'm lipstickless.

Maybe someone will take pity on me and ask if I'd like something from the nearby gas station? Otherwise, I will need to stumble my way across the street, sans sunglasses, squinting from the glorious weather and kicking myself for allowing my purse go on her field trip without a permission slip.

Savor the details.