Thanks!

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Is it too much trouble these days for people to say thank you? Instead of fighting with the guy next to you during a lane merge, you let him in. Does he give a little wave or say thanks? Uh, no. You notice the gal behind you at the check out line has only two items and an infant so you let her go ahead of you in line. Does she say thanks? No, but that doesn’t stop her from taking you up on your offer. You hold the door open so that guy or gal can step through it as well. Do they give you a smile or thanks? Nope, they just breeze on by.

Now maybe it’s just the stress and frazzle dazzle of the holiday season. But I don’t think so. I have noticed that less and less people seem to appreciate when someone does a kindness. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they do indeed notice, but they sure as hell don’t seem to show their appreciation.

Why is that? Are we so busy? Have we become so entitled? I don’t know the answer and to be honest, I really don’t care. I’d much rather someone smile or say thanks than give me 1001 reasons why they can’t. It’s such a small thing, I know.

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Speaking of saying thank you, when did it get to the point that merely saying “thank you” just wasn’t enough? When did folks become so used to people saying thanks or showing appreciation that they now demand more (see above – I’m my own contradiction, I know. In my defense, I’m speaking more like the random acts of kindness and every day niceties above).

I work with people that volunteer their time to help me and I appreciate it so much – especially how it often helps to save my sanity – that I do my best to say “thank you” every chance I get (and I don’t doubt that it’s still not often enough). But to have someone (or sometwenty) talk about being used or unappreciated is tough to hear (this was something that happened over the last year or so ago). I mean how many times can you say the words “thanks” or “thank you” to someone for it to finally become thanks enough? How many personal emails, cards, gifties or tokens of appreciation does it take nowadays? When did a mere “thank you” stop being thanks enough?

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Which of course reminds me of all the small things in my life that I’m thankful for…

  • the internetz – oh lordy how I’ve missed you so!
  • modems – can’t access that world wide web without you
  • hot water – I don’t care how drying it is for your skin, nothing beats a scalding hot shower when it’s cold
  • chocolate – ’nuff said
  • nail polish – who doesn’t feel pretty and happy with bright, shiny toe nails?
  • Boots’ Olive, Almond & Sage Wonderbalm – where have you been all my chapped-handed life?
  • a cup of hot tea – I may loves me the lattes, but nothing works for me like a hot cup of tea!
  • fresh baked bread with butter – yummy!
  • Bare Escentuals’ Lip Savor – I feel in love with this lip balm 10 or so years ago. A couple of years back, BE stopped making it. Now it’s back and I’m lovin’ the hell out of it. Best.lip.balm.E.V.E.R. (and only $5!)
  • Netflix – what else was I to do while I was without the internet? Why, how about I watch some Veronica Mars?!?!
  • Library – I’m saving a small fortune in books thanks to the library. I’m loving it so much I’m going to look into volunteering at my local branch. So worth it to give back like that.
  • the wonderful ladies from Ladies Who Launch that found my plea for more information and took the time to share their own personal experiences with me. I can’t wait until January!
  • Blogs – blogging is fun. What did I ever do before blogging the minutia that is my life?
  • My new blogging friends – I’ve met some pretty cool people through this online world of blogging (even if I have been way too busy to catch up or comment).
  • and of course, my friends, my hubby and my boys *sigh* such love!

So to everyone out there who reads this post, to you I say “thank you.” My hope is that you will take a moment to thank someone (or something) in your life today. What a way to start a weekend!

Holy Close Call Batman!!

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I just now got back from dropping my clothes at the laundromat.  While they were going through the wash cycle, I ran errands – the dry cleaner, the grocery store, etc.  I pulled up to the curb, gathered my bags and clothes and realized that the front door was open!  Not wide open, but let’s just open wide enough with plenty of room for a kitkat and a pupster to escape and search for their mama!

I call out to the pupster and there he is, snuggled in on the pile of coats that we sometimes use as a chair.  I ask him where the kitkat man is (and yes, I do talk to my boys!) and there he was on his tower just looking out the window like he was waiting for me to return.  Talk about lucky!

Mind you, I’m sure they both went outside and did a little exploring.  I was gone for nearly an hour.  But I’m so thankful to know that they’re right at home as if they’re the bestest, most well behaved boys in the world.  They must’ve been speaking with Santa recently! 😉

The Christmas Spirit

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Well, I’ve decided, I’m just not going to bother with decorating this year.  While I’m still all for finding the perfect gift for someone, wrapping the presents and doing the card thing, I just don’t feel like lugging in all the boxes this time.  So instead, I’ve picked up a live little tabletop tree from Trader Joe’s.  And if the stockings are accessible I think I’ll hang those up.  But really, that’s it for me.

Funny thing, I was feeling a little, I don’t know, maybe guilty about not decorating (though we don’t have kids and we don’t really entertain at home, so really, no one but me would miss it) and I mentioned it to friends over the weekend.  It took the I-go-all-out-and-decorate-for-all-holidays friend – the one you can’t help but be jealous of because well, she decorates for all the holidays and come on, that’s just cool as shit – to admit to having those occassions where she didn’t feel like decorating either.  That’s when I finally took that breath and just admitted to myself that it’s just fine and dandy if I don’t want to decorate this year.  That doesn’t really make me Little Miss Bah Humbug.

The Internetz is Good

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I’ve just gone the last three or so days with little or no internet access (depending on the day).  Let me tell you, going that long without internet can be quite peaceful.  I could still check my email on my phone if I get desperate.  Interestingly enough, I never got so desperate that I had to run out to the nearest WiFi joint to get my fix.

Instead, I reveled in finding other ways to occupy my time.  I read books.  I watched movies.  I watched four straight hours of Veronica Mars (and it was delicious!).  I also managed to complete my Christmas cards, ship some gifts,  get crafty  the best thing…clean off my desk!  Mind you, now it’s a mess again thanks to the card writing and gift wrapping, but it’s still better than before since all the loose receipts and bills are filed.

I also got to spend some quality gal time with friends.  And man, I’ve got to say, short of a Veronica Mars marathon (what will I do when I finish up this last season???) nothing beats hanging out with the gals chit chatting over life, books, families and addicting  TV.  Well, throw in a nice glass of wine and some good food and it’s perfection I tell ya!

Now I’m just waiting for the hubby to finish up so we can head out to Spaceland for their holiday party.  I’m sure we won’t stay too long, but that won’t stop me from having a drink or two!

Totally unrelated (and I may have mentioned this before), I need to quickly create some simple business cards.  Since I won’t be using some snazzy company name, just my own name, I need a simple logo – I’m thinking of maybe a lotus blossom.   While I actually have some photos of lotus blossoms, I don’t really know where to look for a simple line image.  Anyone have any ideas?

Well, time to head out.  Hope you guys all had a fun weekend (since I’ve been sans the ‘net I’ve not gotten caught up on any blogs – should be a loong week).  And thanks for the support, it really meant a lot.  I hope to know more over the next week and I’ll fill folks in then.

Post Wedding Festivities with Dad

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My life was thrown for a bit of a loop late yesterday. I’m hoping that things will work out for the best, but really, my hands are tied and there’s nothing that I could do to change anything. I’ll find out more this evening, and then I’ll figure out how best to deal with it.

I’m choosing to keep things positive, so here’s a photo of my dad and I after the wedding reception (and in both of our cases, lots of alcohol) before heading back to the hotel for the night.

Reading is Sexy

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Reading business books is sexier still, but I um, seem to have a bit too many books right now.

Not too long ago, I rediscovered the library. And then, joy of joy, I learned that you can request books and they’ll just deliver it to the branch of your choice! You don’t have to go beyond the front desk to get them!

Well, I’ve recently gotten into women in small business types of books. Once I hear about one, I go ahead and reserve it. Then I hear about another one and I reserve that one too. I (oh so wrongly) assume that since they’re currently loaned out that it will be a while until I see it. Yeah, not the case.

Not counting my current book club book (which I lent to a friend since we share a library system and all the books were checked out), I have five books out! One chick lit – Meg Cabot’s Queen of Babble, two on business – Ladies Who Launch and Rules for Renegades, one on blogging – The IT Girls Guide to Blogging with Moxie, and the Secrets of the Millionaire Mind (at the recommendation of a friend). I also have two short and simple books on networking that I ordered from Amazon – The Savvy Gal’s Guide to Online Networking and Table Talk.

Yikes! When exactly will I be reading all of these books???  I’m halfway through Queen of Babble, a third of the way through LWL and just started the online networking book over lunch.  And did I mention that I just found three more books (!) while cruising around Amazon that I’ll probably be adding to my Christmas list?

Well, I’m nothing if not well read!  Good thing I enjoy reading, that’s for sure.  Sorry, must run, I’ve got some reading to do…

testing testing 1 2 3

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I just added some plug-ins ~~ do follow – link love, a flickr photo thingie, a WYSIWYG comment editor, my feedburner stat thingie and I updated my all-in-one-seo-pack. I’ve also updated my blogroll a little.  It’s a work in progress so don’t be alarmed if I haven’t yet linked to you.

But please, me know if things get wonky from any of these changes.

Ladies Who Launch – the Book

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Women approach change, creativity and business quite differently than men. 

I’ve mentioned a few times now how I’m intrigued by the whole Ladies Who Launch process. I’ve finally decided that I’m going to go ahead and sign up for the January incubation class and I’m so excited. So very excited in fact, taht I went out and immediately picked up their book (of the same name) at the library. What I was ringing felt so right and so insightful that I immediately ran out to the bookstore and picked up yet another copy for my girlfriend. Yes, it’s that good!

Women tend to treat creative projects and new businesses like their children; they become emotionally attached. They fall in love with their ideas and with making them happen, and are unlikely to give away equity in their own businesses or projects easily. They will sacrifice extreme growth to retain sole ownership because they define themselves through their projects and derive extreme personal fulfillment from them. They view relationships emotionally; responding to what feels right as opposed to what looks right on paper.

Talk about ringing true.  I feel like I could have written that myself two years or so ago when I first started up my site.  Now, not so much since I’ve been working more on separating myself from the public face of the site.  I’m much more behind the scenes now.

But now, now I’m ready to move on to bigger and better and start something new.  In  fact, I’ve decided that this week, I’m going to focus on the business side of things.  I know that with this being year-end and the holidays it’s a very busy time for people.  So I don’t necessarily expect a slew of folks to come knocking on my door right now, but that doesn’t mean that I can slack off!

With the new year comes new beginnings and resolutions.  It’s a time when people focus on making changes and I’m going to be ready for them.  Which of course means that I need to get focused and get organized.  I’m going to start with my desk, move on to the wine (yes, we have that much wine just lying about in shipping boxes) and the rest of the office until I can think clearly again.  From there, it’s off to create a simple logo, get started on a website, get my paperwork in order and go!

Mind you, I’ll also be getting ready for Christmas and all the shopping, decorating, wrapping and baking that that might entail.  I’d also like to add some plug-ins to my blogs (both this one and the group one on my site) and play around with things a bit.  But for the most part, the remainder of this year will be spent getting my shit together.  How’s that for affirmations?!?