Crossroads

A friend recently told me that I'm at a crossroads. This struck me by surprise. News to me. I am? What does that mean? Is this the same as a fork in the road? If so, what are my choices? I guess I've felt stuck in a rut for a while now.

When I was younger I had a pretty good support group. People were always encouraging me to keep going whether it involved music, school, weight loss, or relationships. I suddenly feel a little lost now when the responsibility has fallen on me. I have to motivate myself, geez! It's a lot easier to motivate someone else. ha!I miss being in school. If it weren't for the enormous amount of existing school debt I'd be in the classroom again. I guess I just need to find opportunities that provide the same level of challenge.

Last night I had a glimpse into what I've been missing. I attended a grant reading workshop for a local foundation supporting social change in our community. I was in awe listening to one of the women talk. The intelligence was just oozing out of her. I found myself wishing for a fraction of the enthusiasm and passion she possessed for her work. I wonder...have I just not found the right thing to be passionate about, or do I lack that level of intensity?

Peacock feathers...galore!

I've always loved arranging flowers. Last year, a friend asked me to do the flowers for her wedding and then more recently for her daughters wedding. I'm really hoping to start obtaining more projects professionally. I did both of these as a gift and for the experience, but I think it's time to start developing.

When given the challenge to work with the wedding colors Navy & Tiffany blue...I thought...uh...good luck. Plus, the calla lily was her favorite flower so she wanted to incorporate that. Not only this, but she wanted to use silk flowers. This had it's pros and cons. When trying to think of a way to make this work, I thought of something personal that I love. Peacock feathers! I love the colors and the design. Luckily the bride loved the idea and it took off from there.




I was very pleased with how everything turned out and am ready for the next project (paid, I hope). If you know anyone interested in floral arrangements, refer them to me. I'm also excited about digging into some baking projects. People should use me and take advantage of my learning curve discount ;)

Running makes me hungry

So...I've been forcing myself to run again. I'm already back to two miles twice this week. Granted, it is still at an incredibly slow pace and I feel like I'm about to hyperventilate but still....I made it. I'd like to run another 5K this year. Originally my goal was to run one a year, but I need a goal to push myself. Unfortunately, it seems the running is making me more hungry. Dang. I also think it's time to invest in some new kicks.

On an unrelated note...I don't understand why some people (in this case, coworkers) feel the need to be so difficult all the time. Don't they realize the amount of energy it takes to create so much negativity? I really do think interpersonal communication skills should be taught and encouraged throughout all professional environments.

Weekly treats

I think by far...the biggest treat I had this week wasn't even food. One of my closest friends sent me flowers to cheer me up. Sooooo thoughtful. I love flowers and I hardly ever receive them so they were indeed a treat.

Fall is my favorite time of year for many reasons. One of the best ways to kick off the season is to go apple picking. My mom and I try to go every year. It can be a little pricey but the experience and the taste are well worth it. My favorite by far is the Honeycrisp. Mom prefers the Gala.Now, I'm on the search for a good apple cake recipe. I simply need more hours in a day and more days in a week. Maybe that will be one of next weeks treats.

Last weeks sneaky treats...

So much good food, so little time. This is probably the source of the problem from my last blog. Oh well. Might as well appreciate the good things when they come along.

Dirty Franks, a recent addition to our lovely downtown, local eateries. I like my hot dogs plain jane but there are so many options. Not to mention the delightful fatty side dishes. It was definitely a fun and refreshing experience. Maybe the funnel cake at the end had something to do with that.

Panera Breads Cinnamon Crunch Bogels was another delicious treat I discovered last week. See the link for another blog which provides some complimentary photos of the little delights. They best part is that they're less than $2.

So far, this week hasn't been as delicious as last week but it's not over yet. I'll see what I can do. Maybe I'll have to come up with my own sneaky treat.

Weekly Friday Update

Well....it seems I've been making a pattern of posting on Fridays. While I'm not feeling particularly inspired to write about anything I wanted to keep developing this blog. In this case, I'll just summarize the previous week.

I was fortunate enough to attend two Elmo themed birthday parties in one week. This makes much chuckle. To be honest, I feel honored to be part of the families that invited me to these parties. Since I don't really have the closest family circle, my friends have become part of my family. It's a blessing to watch my friends children growing up and for me to still be included.


I had an "interview" (if you can call it that) for a 2nd job, part time this week. It didn't go as expected. In fact, I'm pretty sure I was discriminated against. While it's very upsetting to feel this way, I have to step back and look at the big picture. Clearly, it's not a "good fit" for me. Hopefully something else will present itself.

I've been preparing for a yard sale this weekend. I hope that I'm able to get rid of a handful of stuff. I'm trying to declutter my life; house and mind. It's Labor Day weekend and I don't really have anything fun or festive planned which is sort of a bummer. Maybe something will turn up last minute. Sometimes the unexpected is best.

I've been putting a little thought into where I would like to vacation next year. I always go away over my birthday. I do love a good beach vacation. There's nothing like laying in the sun and having nothing to do but swim, drink and sunbath. However....Europe has been calling my name. I some how feel incomplete not having been to London. I'm thinking a trip to GB may be in my future. I hope.

Today I finally worked up the nerve to tell my boss' boss that I was looking for more opportunities. I've become a little stagnant in my current position. I know there are projects going through my company which will help me grow creatively and professionally and I want to tap into that opportunity. I'm pretty sure it was well received because he responded with "I appreciate your attitude and I will put you at the top of the list for new projects-" Yay! We'll see.

I think that's enough for this nutshell for now. The squirrels have apparently gotten full ; )

Community

I'm currently reading the book Community, The Structure of Belonging by Peter Block. I've just begun, so I'm still in the first chapter. This book spoke to me because I've been trying to find more meaning behind the activities and/or causes I've chosen to contribute my time.

I've always been the type of person to get involved, mostly through volunteer work. Have I really contributed to society? Am I doing my part? Am I doing the right things, and am I doing enough? These are the beginning questions I'm asking myself as I dive into this book.

One of my biggest weaknesses is networking. I hate it and I'm pretty sure I'll never be that person that can walk into a room and immediately start a conversation with whomever I come into contact. I'm more of the quiet observer type. I'm trying to conceive my contribution to a community. As a board member for a local professional music organization, we were looking to obtain a new web designer. We collected RFPs from various designers. A close, personal friend who is working to build her own web design business came to mind. I mentioned it to her, she submitted her quote. The board ended up selecting her based on my personal reference, her competitive quote and expertise in spite of the previous and competitive relationships with other designers. This new relationship or partnership is a win win for the organization, the designer and the immediate community. The non profit organization is benefiting from a less expensive cost. The designer benefits by having additional work and experience as well as the much needed revenue. Overall, the community benefits by keep the dollars local and personal.

I hope to take from this book a little guidance on how I can make a micro impact on my community. I may not be able to do anything to change the world, but if I can change the world of those around me then I will be fulfilled. My personal experience may not be exactly what the book is referencing, but it's a start. I'm anxious to see how my thoughts and experiences may develop throughout reading the book.

If anyone is reading this post, please feel free to share your thoughts and maybe any contributions you've made to your community. Thank you!