Cat Days of Summer

Have I told you about my kitty, Maeby?

If you have to ask where her name came from, then there's probably no sense in explaining it because the show was cancelled anyway. Steve and I adopted her from the Cat Adoption Team a year ago last November, and she will be two in July. We knew she would make our lives interesting from the first time I held her, and she chewed on my coat. Her cage was in the back room, so I found myself "stuck" holding her for quite a while, and after I finally gave her back none of the other cats and kittens I saw measured up. We had bonded.

At almost two years old, she is still quite small, and her four little white paws give her a dainty appearance. But do not be fooled: she is ferocious. She loves to play and pounce, and she still has not outgrown her love of biting me. Frequently she will bite the side of my hand (never too hard) and if I don't pull away, she'll gnaw on me for a second and then start licking me. It's one of her favorite games.

We call her "princess" because, well, she really is. Everything has to be done on her terms, or boy, do we hear about it. She doesn't so much meow as squeak. Hence her other nicknames, "El Squeakadente," "Squeaky Catface," "Princess Squeaks-a-Lot." Sometimes in the evening we'll pick her up and try to cuddle with her on the couch - but she will squeak and wrestle her way out of our grip. Only to return five minutes later and plop down on my lap - on HER terms. She does NOT appreciate being carried down the stairs, and she does NOT trust the vaccuum cleaner. She fully expects to be given a treat every time we open the kitchen drawer that contains the can opener. She expects to be fed as soon as we turn off the shower. She is basically the head of our household.

As the weather gets nicer, Steve has taken to letting her out on the balcony of our condo. This has become one of her favorite things - bugs to chase (she is really quite an effective huntress), sunbeams to nap in, birds to squeak at, and more recently a catnip plant to chew on. Basically, kitty heaven.

So lately, every time we come home she squeaks wildly and dances around underfoot until we finally get the hint and let her out on the balcony. Not that she wants to be left out there all day - oh, no. She wants the door left open so she has the OPTION of being inside or outside, depending on her current whim.

What a princess.

Customer Service

I am going to start a petition to create a new law in this country. I've been thinking about this for a while, and I can't see any down side - I believe this would be a win-win for our country, both in terms of the economy and our empathy.

Everyone, regardless of race, creed, or financial status, should have to work in customer service for at least one year.

I am talking here about entry-level, need-to-ask-permission-to-take-a-bathroom-break kind of customer service. Out there on the front lines, working the floor and serving the people. I believe that if more people were forced to experience being yelled at for a store policy they can't control, they might have a little more patience with the clerks, wait staff, and baristas they encounter on a daily basis - because they would know what it's like to be on the other side of that counter. Gradually, there would be fewer people yelling and more people sympathizing and - dare I say? - caring.

Personally, I have been there and done that. I worked for 2 years in high school in the shoe department at Mervyn's. During my time there, I saw it all. I watched parents turn a blind eye while their child tore apart a neat row of shoeboxes I had just straightened. I found old, beat up and very smelly pairs of shoes ditched inside new boxes. Angry customers demanded to "speak to a manager" more times than I can count. I was told by an older gentleman that I was "worthless." I was also hit on by a guy who only spoke Spanish (he gave me his phone number - but what would we talk about?), and another guy who looked like the bridge keeper at the end of Monty Python's Holy Grail (ie, probably an escaped mental patient) - but that's another story.

And that's only my first customer service job. I also worked for about 4 years as a Barista (and later, Shift Supervisor) at Starbucks. One thing I learned very quickly is that people take their coffee VERY seriously. Once we were out of white chocolate and, upon hearing this news, a customer yelled, "Well, this is just the worst day of my life!" and stormed out. I once had a freshly prepared 20 oz raspberry mocha spilled on me by a customer, and when I immediately made her a new one, she didn't apologize or thank me. I had a very large and intimidating man berate me loudly and ferociously because I wouldn't let him return a dirty, used, and cracked French Press for cash without a receipt. I was burned multiple times by oversteamed milk, I sliced my finger open cutting pumpkin loaf, my shoes were always sticky with syrup and my clothes always smelled strongly of coffee and sour milk.

I took more mental, emotional, and physical beatings than I can count in the name of customer service. And it would be easy to read this and think I was bitter....

But then I think about all of the good things. The camaraderie with co-workers immediately comes to mind. I remember singing and making up crazy voices with Lonnie while stocking shoes early in the morning. I remember how I became known as the "Mismate Queen" because of my talent for finding the mates to lonely shoes. I remember marking Starbucks drink cups in fancy, elaborate script to entertain whoever was working the espresso bar. I remember turning up the music in the store after we'd locked out the last customer and dancing around singing while mopping the floor. Also, I remember how we would stick up for each other. I remember the ladies who hugged and encouraged me when that man called me worthless. I remember one of my managers at Starbucks sticking up for me when a customer was being unreasonably rude and downright abusive (she was a regular and this was a pattern for her - oddly enough, she was much nicer after that).

I also think of the times I was able to go above and beyond for customers, and how good that felt. I once called about a dozen stores in the area to help a bride-to-be find the right sizes of clearance shoes that were just perfect for her bridesmaids. She was so grateful! I remember learning what drinks regular customers would order so I could ask them if they'd like "the usual." People really enjoy being recognized and known. I remember the smiles I would get when I took an extra moment to put a little extra flourish on someone's drink. I remember also being empowered to "make things right" by re-making a drink or giving someone a free drink coupon if they'd been waiting a long time.

Everyone, regardless of race, creed, or financial status, should have to work in customer service for at least one year.

Here is the problem with my law......to be able to learn valuable life lessons by working in customer service, you have to CARE ABOUT PEOPLE. And as Coach Steve is fond of saying, "you can't put a gun to people's heads and say 'care about people!'" It has to come naturally, it has to be real, and it has to come from the heart.

I was disappointed last night by an experience we had at Macy's. We were looking for a set of sheets on a wedding gift registry, valued at $59.99 (according to the printout) as that was at the top end of our price range. A polite older woman offered to help us find the set, and we did find it. However, it was priced at $75. When I asked her about this, I was told that the item must have been on sale when they registered, but it was not now. However, if we came back the next day, it would be on sale again for that price. Frustrated, I asked if they could honor the price from the registry, especially given that it would BE that price again in a few hours. She just shrugged an said, "Well, back when we were Meier and Frank, we could do that, but now that we're Macy's they don't' do that." She didn't call a manager to see if they could make and exception, she didn't even offer to put the item on hold, she just shrugged indifferently.

They lost a sale that night. We were willing to buy the item at the sale price, but instead we left the store. We went to Crate and Barrel, and I'm happy to report it was a great experience. Multiple store clerks offered to help us as we wandered around (admittedly, a little lost) with their registry, and ultimately one woman made a few helpful suggestions when she could see we were having trouble deciding. She offered to hold one of the items while we kept looking, and then (as is their standard) when we'd made our selections they were all neatly wrapped up in one box, ready to bring to the wedding. That is a company that values service, and I will be back.

I suppose one result from my years of customer service is that my standards for good service are pretty high. I refuse to personally punish a clerk for a store policy they did not set and are responsible for following. I understand that they are real people who have bad days, and I can't possibly know everything that is going on in their lives. However, if I find that a store's policies are not customer service-friendly, I might choose not to shop there anymore. And I have little patience for employees who have decided very openly that they do NOT care about serving their customers. When you take that kind of job, you take on that kind of responsibility, and in that case there is just no reasonable excuse for not caring.

However, when I find great service out there in the world, I can't help but be ecstatic. Experiencing good service is something that spreads - it puts you in a great mood, and then you transfer that onto other people. It's a butterfly effect that makes the world smile.

Sometimes I'm almost tempted to go back into that world with everything I've learned.....

On second thought......maybe not!

Timeblocking the Reactive Day (still working on that article)

Another Step: Use Your Calendar

If you're an assistant to someone, chances are you spend a LOT more time in someone else's calendar than your own. In fact, you may not even realize you have a calendar of your own! But one of the best things you can do to keep yourself on track and using a Timeblock is to put it in the calendar, and look at it every day. This will prevent you from overcommitting yourself in any given day, and will also enable you to plan ahead so you can make the best use of your most precious resource: your time.

Another Step: Timeblocking Each Individual Day or Week

As different situations arise from week to week, you may need to block out more time in a given week to work on a short-term project, or prepare for a big meeting. It is a good practice to review your week's schedule either first thing Monday, or the Friday before, to see if you may need to add more focused time to your Timeblock for the week. You may even decide this happens frequently enough that you need to add "Project Time" to each week. You can designate how this time will be used from week to week, but by blocking it out you will be able to commit that time on a regular basis.

Sharing Your Timeblock

The first thing you will need to do to make your Timeblock a reality is to share it with others. First, you will want to share this information with your boss or supervisor. You will need to have their buy-in and support if you're ever going to make this schedule work, because it is all too tempting to let them pull you off task because of their position of authority. If they have no idea that you've committed to the importance of running reports from 8am-9am on Tuesday mornings, they will continue to drop by your desk or send you emails and expect an immediate response during that time - and you may feel guilty putting them off or disappointing them. But if you help them to understand how it benefits them (or the team as a whole) to allow you to stay on task during that time, then all you'll need to do is quickly remind them: "Hey, I'm timeblocked to work on reports right now so I really need to focus, but if you send me an email I'll be happy to get back to you on that when I have some white space at 9:30am."

The same rule applies to your teammates and co-workers. If someone from the sales team repeatedly distracts you, or the girl in the cubicle next to you frequently stops by to talk, just remind them about your timeblock. If you've shared it with them, and asked them to respect it, then you can avoid a lot of frustration or hurt feelings, or the temptation to get pulled off-task yourself. In fact, once your teammates see the benefit of your Timeblock, you can ask them not only to refrain from distracting you from it, but you can ask them to go one step further and hold you accountable to it. Ask someone you trust to keep a copy of your timeblock handy, and to remind you of your commitments and ask you if you're sticking to it.

Another way in which you may choose to share your Timeblock is to educate your clients. This may or may not be appropriate, depending upon the type of clients you work with. I have seen this done effectively by utilizing the wonderful modern technology available with voicemail and email auto-reply features. For example, you may record a daily voicemail, stating the times that day that you will be returning calls. This is especially useful if your day is compressed, and your response time limited. If you will be in a meeting or working on a large project that will take up a large part of your day, you may also opt to implement an email auto reply. Here's an example of a script you could use:

Thursday, April 12th - I will be in meetings for most of the day today, with very limited access to email. If you have an urgent need, please call our office and another of my talented associates will do their best to assist you. Otherwise, I will reply to your message as soon as I am able. Thank you for your patience!

Dealing With Urgent Needs: Slide

As I mentioned before, when your role is a reactive one, it's unavoidable that much of your time will be spent.....reacting. And sometimes, even with a great level of commitment to your Timeblock, you will need to put it aside to deal with an urgent need. Before you do so, ask yourself, 'Is this truly urgent? What will the consequence be if I do not take care of this right this minute?' If the answer is yes and you cannot live with the consequence, then you absolutely should go take care of that situation.

However, your Timeblock does not need to go "out the window" just because you have to take care of something else in that moment. If something in your Timeblock is truly that important, then you need to learn to SLIDE. What I mean by this is, you should not cancel, delete or erase anything of value on your Timeblock. Find another time, and slide that appointment.

One of my highest payoff activities is my weekly meeting with each of my coaches. If this meeting doesn't happen in any given week, our communication suffers. When our communication suffers, our clients start to see a negative impact on their experience. So, it is of prime importance that I make sure those meetings happen. This doesn't mean that we always need to move heaven and earth to make the meeting happen at exactly the time it was originally scheduled (though it usually does). But on those occasions where it can't - an important meeting needs to be scheduled, one of us is on vacation that day, one of us is not feeling well, etcetera - we find another time. The meeting slides to the afternoon, or the next day, but it HAPPENS.

Timeblocking the Reactive Day (beginning of an article)

NOTE: This blog entry is meant to be the start of an article I want to write....so I deeply apologize if there is not as much entertainment value as you have grown accustomed to.

Why is it so difficult to timeblock your day when you are in a support position?

For me, a typical day often looks like this: I arrive at work with one thing on my mind. This ONE THING is something I will get done today, if I do nothing else. I will tackle this thing first. Just as soon as I check my email for anything really urgent. I dive into my email, just to assess the things that really need to be done, and the next thing I know an hour has passed. The phone rings - it's a client who has a session this morning, so I really need to take the call. Then I listen to my voicemail, and realize there is someone I really need to call back - and if I don't reach them this morning, they will be out on vacation. I get their voicemail. The phone rings - it's a client and I'm not sure why they're calling, but I take the call so I won't have to play phone tag. While I'm on the phone with them, I miss a call and have another voicemail to return. I check my email again - 8 new messages have popped up. I start to tackle those messages when I realize I have a meeting in 10 minutes and I have not prepared. I scramble to get a few things together - the phone rings - and I make it to my meeting only a few minutes late.

After the meeting, I realize I only have an hour and a half before my lunch break, so I resolve to do the ONE THING right now. Just as soon as I listen to the three voicemails that came in during my meeting. As I'm about to return a call, the phone rings and it's the person I called earlier this morning - gotta take that call. As I hang up, I see an email pop up on my screen that I've been waiting for, so I handle that situation next. Then I notice an email that I really need to answer, as a client has been waiting for my response. The phone rings - I pick it up without thinking and realize it's my mom. I spend five minutes trying to get her off the phone while I answer email at the same time. I hang up and suddenly realize I'm 10 minutes late for my lunch break. I grab my workout bag and head to the gym.

After a frantic workout, I eat lunch at my desk while I catch up on a few emails. 30 minutes later I have more email in my in-box than when I started. I decide to push email aside and work on my ONE THING. The phone rings - it's someone who is very hard to get a hold of, and I take the call. This leads to an hour-long crisis mode as I try to solve the problem that came up in my conversation with them. Just as I am finishing up with this, one of our salespeople stops by my desk to talk about a client who needs to be scheduled. I promise I will take care of that right away, and so I set aside the ONE THING and call this client. 30 minutes later I have resolved that situation, but then I realize that I have only 5 minutes to prepare for my weekly afternoon meeting with one of my Coaches. I scramble to get ready and am relieved when he is 5 minutes late getting off the phone. We have a quick meeting, and then as we wrap up I realize I have only 30 minutes left in the day to get my ONE THING done. The phone rings. My email flashes at me on the screen. The day is over, and the ONE THING I was going to do today......did not get done. I decide that tomorrow, definitely, I will do the ONE THING.


When you work in a customer service/support type of role, it's mandatory that you handle things as they come up. If you constantly put off helping your clients until it was most convenient for you, they would not feel they are getting good service. It's the nature of the beast - there is no way to entirely avoid interruptions and being in a reactive mode.

However, I believe you can minimize interruptions to help yourself stay on task by adhering to a flexible timeblock and by using "white space" in your day.

STEP ONE: Bookend Your Day
Everyone has a typical (if not fixed) start and end time to their day. Maybe this fluctuates depending on the day of the week, but it is set. Place boundaries around this time on your calendar, to remind yourself that this is the workday that you have to work with. You might put your commuting time on your calendar before and after your workday. OR, schedule the first and last 30 minutes of your day as something along the lines of "Prep Time," "Email Follow-up" or "Daily Review." This serves as a reminder that with most days you will need time for departure and re-entry into the flow of your work, so you avoid finding yourself walking out of a meeting with just five minutes to wrap up for the day.

STEP TWO: Schedule the "Fixed Points"
There are always going to be a few "fixed points" in your day or your week. A regular staff or department meeting, a one-on-one meeting, a recurring deadline for submitting reports - all of these things need to happen for you to be able to effectively do your job. Typically they will happen at the same time every day or every week. Schedule these into your calendar next.

STEP THREE: Schedule Prep Time
To extract or provide the greatest value from these fixed points, you are also going to need to allow time to prepare. Whether this is the 30 minutes right before a scheduled meeting, or an hour early in the morning to ensure you don't miss a key deadline, you should plan ahead with some time to prepare. There may be some days when you really only need 10 minutes to get ready for the meeting, or when you're finished with your reports in 1/2 hour, but if you don't schedule out the maximum time you need then you'll find yourself scrambling. Schedule this time on your calendar - but understand that this time will be flexible. It can be moved earlier or later, as long as it still happens.

STEP FOUR: Evaluate White Space
When you spend the bulk of your day operating in reactive mode, you can't schedule out time to receive emails and phone calls, because it's impossible to predict when those calls might come in. However, you can schedule the important things (Steps 1-3) and then utilize the "white space" in between to react to the needs of your clients or co-workers.

For example, you may opt not to take an incoming phone call during your prep time for an important weekly meeting. You need to focus on the task at hand, so you let that call go to voicemail. Once you are done with your meeting, you can return to your desk with white space ahead of you, and return that phone call. Your meeting will have been more productive, and even though the client missed you initially, they will appreciate your quick response.


IDEAS TO CONSIDER:
*Time tracking to identify the times when incoming call volume is the greatest - this should be white space time because you know you will be interrupted
*Time tracking to identify times when you have the best chance of reaching people - or even the quickest return call time. This would be good time to be making outbound calls.
*With both of these times identified you can also figure out when the slow times are - this is good project time.

Ready for Spring

As I write this, it's a sunny morning and the promise of Spring is in the air. I awoke to clear blue skies ouside my bedroom window, the kind of blue that you just want to pull right out of the sky and make a sundress out of. When Steve and I walked outside, however, we could see a mix of blue sky, white billowy clouds, and heavy gray, threatening clouds. The sun carried a certain warmth, if you stood still full in its glow, but in shadows the air was still briskly cold.

We picked up some coffee at Starbucks - his usual extra ice Americano, my usual 1/2 decaf soy latte - and made a courageous attempt to sit outside. The glare of the bright sun on my computer screen, coupled with the too-cool air, was less than ideal. So now, we have set up camp inside the Cedar Hills Crossing atrium. High above me, huge skylights play a rotating show of blue sky and clouds. To my left, the new Powell's Books beckons. To my right, a gazebo filled with fake ivy and bright silk flowers houses the Easter Bunny - much to the delight of small children who pass by. The grey bunny in a purple polka-dot smock high-fives a security guard as he dances around the mall. A small blonde girl in a white summer dress and pristine white gloves giggles with delight.

Harbingers of Spring.

OK, technically March 21st marked the official First Day of Spring this year. But it never really feels like Spring until I'm able to comfortably wear flip-flops and capri pants for at least three days straight. Or until I start to expect sunshine when I wake up, instead of clouds. In short, until it's practially Summer already.

The great thing about Spring is that it holds such a wonderful promise. All of the Summers of my past start to melt into this one glorious season that is just around the corner. There will be picnics and barbecues, tank tops and flower-print skirts, lazy afternoons in the shade and balmy evenings. This will be the year I finally check out the summer concert series at the Oregon Zoo. I picture myself hiking and camping almost every weekend, really taking advantage of Oregon's outdoor offerings. We'll finally get up to Mt. St. Helens this year, I tell myself. Steve will grill chicken and vegetables several times a week, and we'll sit out on our balcony drinking lemonade. Maybe this year, I'll really get into gardening, and my balcony will be alive with lush green plants and cheerful blooms. For me, Spring holds the promise of an ideal Summer.

I seem to know in the back of my mind that October will come, and I'll have to tuck many of those Summer dreams away for anonther season. There never seem to be enough lazy afternoons or wide open weekends when the weather is ripe for outdoor living. At least, not in Oregon. But one of the reasons I choose to live here is that incomparable feeling you get when you have a free Saturday and it's the first really nice day of the year, and you are bursting to seize the moment and live it out to the fullest.

In a way, the weather here is a reflection of life. You never know how long the sunny days will last, and you can be sure that there's some rain somewhere in your forecast. Dreams of sunny days can tide you over when the cold sets in, and you're stuck inside. I think that sometimes we need to come inside for a while....I mean, who wants to clean house when the sun is shining? It forces us to slow down and reflect. Then, when the good days come, we are more than ready to burst forth and live life to the fullest, to bask in the warm glow and enjoy it for all it's worth.

As for me, I'm ready for the Spring, because it means my Summer is coming. And I've got some great summer clothes that have been folded up in boxes for way too long.....

March Madness and the Wearing of the Green

I'm one of those girls your friends warned you about.

The kind of girl who gets invited to sweeten the pot of some office sports pool, and then has the gall to select teams purely on a sentimental whim. Girls like me wreak havoc on the odds of winning, because even though by all logic they should not be able to beat the guys who spend hours painstakingly reviewing statistics and listening to sports commentary, they routinely do.

For your consideration: March Madness 2007

Ok, ok, so I'm not actually WINNING our office pool as it stands right now. But I could! I'm currently in 8th place out of 18 people, which I feel is not too shabby given that I spent all of 5 minutes setting up my bracket. With only seed numbers as a rough guide, I raced through my picks with logic such as, 'Bridget lives in North Carolina, and I was just there visiting her. Even though she works at NC State, I'm going to pick North Carolina to go to the championship game,' or 'Bryon from our small group really likes Kansas - I'll pick them to go to the Elite 8.'

Some of my picks clearly had no logic at all. For example, I picked VCU over Duke. No one picked VCU over Duke - it would be a big upset, the 11 seed over the 6 seed. But I did, and amazingly I was right. Why did I pick VCU? I have absolutely no idea. In fact, I kept having to refer back to my bracket because I honestly couldn't remember who I was supposed to root for in most of the games. I finally printed it out over the weekend, and kept a copy in my pocket for reference.

One of my picks is probably not the smartest pick by "bracketology" standards, but for me it was the only choice. The Oregon Ducks will go all the way!!!!!!

Yes, I am a Duck to the core - I attended there from '96 to '00, and since graduation I have followed the football team with passion every year. This year, I decided I really should give the basketball team some attention too, and to my great delight it has been a fantastic year for Oregon basketball!

I'm one of those crazy sentimental fans who truly believes, every single season, that MY team could be the best. I wear green and yellow with pride on game day, and I take it personally any time we lose. Any penalty on the Ducks is erronious, and any obvious penalty NOT called on the opposing team is probably the reason we lost the game. I learn by osmosis from my husband about other teams in the league, but only so far as it pertains to our ability to march all the way to the championship. I simply can't sit all day and watch whatever game happens to be on....unless it directly involves my beloved Ducks.

If I'm 100% honest with myself, it's a long shot for the Ducks to win the championship this March. So why would I stake my hard-earned $5 buy-in on a long shot?

The first reason, which I decided from the beginning, is that I could not bring myself to bet against my team. I'd be disappointed if they lost, whether I picked them to win or not, so I might as well have all my disappointment at once.

The second reason, which didn't even hit me until this weekend, is that I now actually have some personal interest invested in the tournament. Suddenly all the close games matter to me, and I have a team to root for. It doesn't matter that I never even heard of Virginia Tech until a week ago - I was crushed that they couldn't pull out the win against Southern Illinois. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when Ohio State pulled ahead of Xavier in overtime. Instead of looking for every opportunity to change the channel, or patiently waiting for my husband to check the scores, I'm the one scanning the scoreboards at the top of the screen and yelling the loudest for the teams in my bracket.

In the break between games since Sunday, I've found myself looking forward with excitement to Thursday and Friday's action. ESPECIALLY Friday at 6:40pm, when the Ducks take on UNLV to try and push through to the Elite 8. Naturally, I'm convinced in my heart that they can make it happen - and just as naturally, I will be crushed, deflated, and personally offended if they were to lose. But that's just not going to happen.

GO DUCKS!!!!!

*Update 3/26/07*

This is how very sad my kitty was when the Ducks lost yesterday.....guess we're done until football season....

iPost on MyBlog

First I'd like to say a few things in praise of my iPod.

When they first came out on the market, I thought they seemed silly. But then my mom got one, and I tried it out. It was love at first sound. My wonderful husband got a Mini for me as a birthday gift (the biggest part of the gift being that he got me the pink one, which pretty much eliminated the possibility of him borrowing it to take to the gym). I loaded my songs, figured out how easy it was to purchase songs from iTunes, and soon I had a great selection on music and was crafting custom playlists.

Listening to my iPod while doing the dishes, working out, or just going for a walk is like having my own custom soundtrack to my life. I can alter the mood of the scene just by the song I choose to play. If I hear a song on the radio that I really like, I can go buy it for a buck, where in the past I wouldn't have spent the money on the whole album for one song. I can pick and choose my music, and gradually iTunes is able to recognize my choices and recommend songs I might like. They are eerily competent at this.

Yes, I am quite fond of my little pink iPod. It's so me.

However, as I consider it this morning, I can't help thinking of the conversation we had at our Community Group this week. In our discussion about this past Sunday's sermon, we evolved into the topic of selfishness versus being more others-focused. Selflessness, or even unselfishness, seems to be very counter-culture.

We are born with an innate need to be selfish, as a form of self-preservaton in our more vulnerable state, but as we age we are supposed to be taught to see and care about the world outside ourselves. We are supposed to learn that "it's not about me." If we're lucky, we have great parents who will model this for us, and teachers who will expose us to the bigger picture and the needs of others. But these days it seems that even if we do, they are fighting an uphill battle against so many other societal forces.

In large part, I'm talking about advertising. 99% of advertising that you see in some way or another feeds our selfish instincts. The voices on the television, radio, and billboards whisper, 'YOU can make it happen. YOU deserve this. YOU can have everything. It's all about YOU.' (Ironically, they're so good at it we forget that it's a lie - it's really just a clever way for THEM to live out their dreams of getting filthy rich off of YOU.)

In our group discussion, Cherie made a terrific point. She was talking about a family with teenage boys they know, and how difficult it is to combat all these societal forces as parents. If you look at the technology that is so essential to their lives these days, it's all about the iPod, iTunes, MySpace. I. Me. Mine.

Soon after, Cherie's husband Rob did something I appreciate - he challenged us on how we are going to take action as a result of our discussion. We decided that as a group we need to spend a little more time looking outside ourselves and even our close-knit group, helping those in need. We kicked around a few different service projects we could do together, and before long we had conceived of a website for our Community Group where anyone from the church could go and post a description of their need, and then we could review them periodically and vote on which ones we would take on that month. With the understanding, of course, that we wouldn't be able to get to everyone's request.

"I know," Cherie said, "we'll call it iChurch!"

I really appreciated her sly observation at that moment. Sometimes we can get so caught up in really cool ways to help others that we can completely lose sight of the reason why we're doing it. Helping other people can suddenly become all about us, which essentially defeats the purpose. For reasons I can't explain, this reminds me of a line from the movie "Clueless":

"If you ever did something that wasn't 90% selfish, I'd die of
shock."
"Oh, that'd be reason enough for me."

As I go through the weeks ahead, I hope I'm able to let the truth of this message sink in. It's not about me. It's not about me. My iPod is great, but it's not about me.

The Sewing Perfectionist

Last week's Sewing Expo was very fun. Though not a lot of actual sewing happens at these things, it's the perfect chance, if you are so inclined, to spend a LOT of money. I was proud of myself for holding back and only purchasing five different fabrics, a handful of buttons, embossing powder and ribbon, and a few magazines for beginning sewers. More importantly, though, I came away inspired to start sewing!

The first fabric I purchased was a light teal flannel with adorable little dresses printed all over it. It was a good value and I envisioned making pajama pants out of it. And as it happened, at the Simplicity booth they were giving away a free pattern for pajama pants. Perfect! The only challenge was that I had purchased the last of that fabric from the bolt, and it came in two separate pieces.....not quite enough to make the pattern. So yesterday my mom and I drove out to Fabric Depot on the east side of town to look for another flannel fabric to make a cuff at the bottom of the pants.

Fabric Depot is known for their enormous selection and their 40% off sales, one of which was happening this weekend. It was a bit overwhelming to be surrounded by so much fabric, with my mind suddenly racing about all of the great projects I could do. My mom was delighted to see me so excited about sewing, and she helped me pick up some notions that I needed and select a skirt pattern for some tweed fabric I'd purchased at the Expo. We found a fun flannel to go with my pajama pants in a zebra stripe, and I was thrilled. We also found some beautiful lace to do a little inverted V-shaped cutout at the bottom of the cuff - an idea I'd picked up at the expo and was eager to try out.

After braving the crowds to make our purchases, we returned to her house where she has a fully decked-out sewing room with everything we could possibly need to work on my project. We washed and ironed the fabric we'd purchased, and spread it out on the cutting table to figure out how we would piece together this project. I had a few ideas in mind that would take us off of the beaten path of the simple pattern instructions (a bit ambitious for a beginner!) so we had some figuring to do that would require our best math and geometry skills.

As we worked, I started to realize something: I was worrying too much about making everything just so. Each snip of the scissors as I cut out the fabric, each pin I placed, I felt I needed to double-check with my mom to see if I was doing it right. Sometimes my mom would encourage me to be as careful or detailed as possible, but much of the time I got answers like "It's close enough," or "Just eyeball it. It doesn't need to be perfect."

I was trying to be a sewing perfectionist. I honestly think this may be at least a part of what had been keeping me from sewing before....I was afraid to cut into the fabric or try a unique pattern because I might not do it correctly. Without someone standing over my shoulder to say "Yes, that's right," or "No, do it this way," I was just too intimidated to try. And when I did attempt a project on my own, the 1-hour easy project took me over three hours because I agonized over each step, re-reading the instructions five or six time before each stitch.

I think this is why my friend Jen has become such an accomplished seamstress in such a short amount of time. She dove into the process without fear, and learned both by instruction, and by trial and error. She didn't let the possibility of a mistake keep her from trying something out, even if it wasn't exactly what the pattern instructions told her she should do. If her project didn't turn out exactly how she had hoped, she simply found a creative way to fix it - usually with an even better result.

I suspect there is a larger application here than just with sewing. At work, or in life, if we try to be "perfectionists" then we find ourselves paralyzed. We are so afraid of making the wrong decision that we make no decision at all. Or we try too hard to control our circumstances, and suddenly find that we haven't made the progress we had hoped for. We're stuck on step 3 of 15 while everyone else seems to be moving on to something else.

I know that there are times where the little details truly do matter. As I worked on my pajama pants, my mom pointed out that I should sew a certain part from the top side of the garment, because "that is the part that will be visible." Sometimes it's okay to have some sloppy stitches or uneven edges on the inside of the garment, because it's not really going to be noticed anyway. So, if I'm having company over to my house, and I'm breaking my back to have the place spotless....is anyone really going to look behind the sofa to see if it's been vacuumed? Probably not.

On the other hand, there are also times where you need to pay close attention to the items "behind the scenes," because otherwise your entire garment can come unravelled. I realized this recently with the boxers I had made a few weeks ago. I didn't take the extra time to press and sew the edge of the fabric at the waistband, and after one washing that rough edge is starting to fray. It's the other side of the coin, where if you're not taking care of yourself then all of the beautiful finish work that's visible to the outside world can just come apart.

It can be difficult to know at times what is worth your attention, and what you just need to release control of. It helps me to think of the consequences. If I consider the worst-case scenario, and decide I can live with it, then I think I can let go more easily.

So, when I return to my mom's house today to finish the project I've started, I'm resolving to pay closer attention to the things that matter....and to relax about the rest. Maybe after that I'll start another project on my own and try to let go of the fear that I might make a mistake.

After all, there will be another Sewing Expo next year, and Fabric Depot will have another 40% off sale. If the worst-case scenario is that I need to get some more fabric because I've destroyed what I was working on beyond recognition or repair.....I can live with that.

Sewing and Stitchery Expo 2007

This evening I am going to my first sewing expo in Puyallup, Washington. This thing is a BIG DEAL....hundreds of vendors, over a hundred classes offered each day, fashion shows and lectures galore. Hotels within a 15-mile radius routinely sell out for this event, which stretches over a period of four days. We will be there for just two.

And, there are two reasons why I'm going.

First of all, I recently inherited my mom's old Bernina sewing machine. It's a quality machine and I've actually used it before, so I was pretty thrilled to receive it. But it has sat, nearly unused, in our office ever since. My problem is that I don't really know where to begin. I know how to operate the machine, and I can effectively sew two pieces of fabric together. Beyond that.......there is an entire world of feet, needles, tension, seam allowances, and other sewing lingo that I only have the most generic grasp of. So I am hoping this week to gain some knowledge - and some inspiration - so I can start actually using the machine that many seasoned sewers would be delighted to have.

The second reason is actually the more compelling reason. While my mom can't make it this year, much to her great disappointment (especially since she has been hinting for months that I should go with her this year) I will be attending with my Aunt Terri and two of my best friends, Selina and Jen.

Selina is quite a seamstress. Having majored in Interior Architecture at the University of Oregon, where we met and became friends, she has an amazing talent for color and design. She creates beautiful home dec items, recovers furniture, and constructs fun items of clothing for special occasions. She and her mom made her wedding dress together, which was nothing short of a work of art - just absolutely stunning. So basically, she knows what the heck she's doing when she gets in front of a sewing machine.

Jen just started sewing at the end of last year, but she has dived in headfirst. A friend of hers finally taught her how to use the machine her husband had bought for her as a gift some time before, and the next thing we knew she had made boxer shorts, curtains, pillows, and even some knit tops for herself (which to me seems awfully daunting). Given her busy schedule - she's a lawyer and works for the Department of Justice in Salem - I am impressed and inspired by how quickly she has picked it up.

So, several weeks back, the three of us sat down (while the boys played Munchkin in the other room) and poured over the class schedule. We selected a good range of classes - some individually, most together - and submitted our registration.

The reason I am most excited about this trip is to get in some good GIRL TIME! I can see us staying up late, oohing and ahing over gorgeous fabrics, and giggling uncontrollably over all of the BAD fashion we are guaranteed to see ("Embellish a Themed Sweatshirt Jacket" - come on! ). As much as I love my husband, and enjoy spending time with family and other couples, there is absolutely no replacement for time with your girlfriends.

Men do not understand why women attend sewing expos. Every single man I've told about this trip has, intentionally or not, given me a look that says "Why on earth would you want to do that?" This is because men do not really understand the depth of female friendships, and that we attend events like this because they are as good an excuse as any to get together.

These are girls with whom I can be both silly and serious, sometimes over the same cup of coffee. We have shared common experiences and interests over the years, and our conversations are filled with inside jokes and quotes from TV shows we all enjoy. We encourage each other, celebrate together, and sometimes cry together. We are willing to stand up and fight for each other.

I am lucky to have such friends in my life.

Puyallup, here we come!

Office Relics

I've been staring at this blank screen for too long.....and no words have come. I thought I would write about President's Day, which occurred this past Monday, but I tried to do some research and found myself more confused than ever about the origin and meaning of the holiday.

So today, I'm going to tell you about some of the interesting things I see on my desk.

The roses that were so bright one week ago are nearing the end of their useful life. Each bud is darkening and drooping, but interestingly the petals are turning a deep purple on their edges. They are still just pretty enough to prevent me from throwing them out, though I seriously doubt they will live to see the weekend.

Just in front of the flowers, I have my daily Far Side desk calendar. I decided early this year that I needed to infuse my days with a bit more humor, so I picked up this calendar at a 75% off sale, and subscribed myself to daily emails of Calvin and Hobbes, and Dilbert. The great thing about my Far Side calendar is that it is a favorite of Coach Steve, and so I will sometimes tuck a particularly funny cartoon into his in-box or travel packet. It puts him in a good mood, which bodes well for me.

Next to my calendar, within arm's reach by necessity, I have a mini Slinky. It is the original metal kind, none of this plastic nonsense. Some people have squishy stress balls on their desks; I have a Slinky. Often when I am on the phone, I'll pick it up and play with it - the chink-chink sound it makes is immensely satisfying.

On the other side of the calendar is a small hand-painted dish from Mexico, brought back for me by Coach Steve from the ALE (Achieving Leadership Excellence) event a few years ago. I've been campaigning to go to this event ever since I heard about it, as it's always in some fabulously tropical destination, but somehow they never seem to need my assistance.....pity. The dish has been used for candy in times past, but more recently I have been keeping my husband's business cards displayed here.

Next to the dish, I have my Core 4 Puzzle set, of which I am quite proud. There is a metal puzzle piece (which doubles as a drink coaster) for each of our Core 4: Life Plan, Business Vision, Business Plan, and Priority Management. These are typically given out to new coaches as they learn how to coach their clients through the Core 4. I managed to earn these by coaching Raymond on why the Life Plan needs to come first, and he did not pull any punches. He threw out every tough objection he could think of - so I had to work pretty hard!

On top of one of the coasters, quite appropriately, is my coffee mug. It is a pretty blue color with orange olive branches and "Athens 2004" written in small white print. My brother was stationed for 9 months with the Air Force on Diego Garcia, a tiny military island in the Indian Ocean. Souvenirs were tough to come by, so on his way home he bought me this mug during his layover in Athens (where the Olympics were to take place later that year). I am very protective of this coffee mug, and I almost never place it in the dishwasher here at the office - I opt for hand-washing instead. Every single time I leave it overnight in the dishwasher, someone takes it (assuming it is for community use) first thing in the morning. It is very distressing to me to lose track of my coffee mug, which probably should tell you a little something about my personality.

At the base of my computer monitor is a "diamond"-studded tiara. Sometimes when you're having a rough day at work, you just need to feel like a princess.

Next to that is a tiny glass duck, which I purchased on a family trip to Italy. It's made from Venitian glass, and was carefully and lovingly carried home in my backpack. He makes me smile every time I look at his silly bulging eyes. Go Ducks!

I have also decorated my monitor a bit - I have noticed that this is practically inevitable in the office environment. There is a small smiling sunshine which I drew and colored with a highlighter one day, and have kept taped to the top of my monitor ever since because it's so cheerful. There's a metallic muti-layed star whose origins I cannot recall. There is a Far Side cartoon titled "Aerobics in Hell" that reminds me to go to the gym. And there is a small post-it in Laura's handwriting that says "Romans 8:28." This reminds me that God is in control.

On a small ledge, peering through the glass divider that separates my desk from Imaya's, is my Hello Kitty Pez dispenser. She is pointed at an angle toward her new friend....Imaya's Hello Kitty Pez dispenser. Both of us received them as stocking stuffers from our moms.

Pictures. I do have quite a few pictures around. My favorite wedding photo; me in Mexico hugging the little boy whose family we built a home for; Steve and me at Tressa and Doug's wedding; my friends Jennee and Carson with their two adorable daughters Rachel and Sarah; Steve and me at a Dave Matthew's concert in the Gorge; me with my parents at my college graduation; the Pink Pterodactyls ready to build the house in Mexico in a suitably pink phrame. Oh, and a hand-drawn picture of our cat, Maeby, done in Sharpie on a post-it note by my talented husband.

Treasures, one and all.

Most of us spend a great deal of time sitting at our desks, so it is nice to be surrounded by things that make you smile, and things that remind you about your life both inside and outside the office. There is more to me than the 8 hours a day I spend at my desk, and I never want to forget that. Seeing these personal items reminds me of who I am, and how blessed I am.

I really am blessed.

Reflections on a Holiday

Yesterday was Valentine's Day.

As my husband cleverly reminded me, this is just another day on the calendar for many people. Yes, I suppose this is very true, but even still whenever I write the date 2/14 at the top of a page, I can't resist drawing a heart around it. If that makes me hopelessly "girly," well, I am more than OK with that.

Some people complain that it is a commercialized holiday, invented by Hallmark for the purpose of guilting people into buying cards, candy, and flowers at an otherwise slow time in the retail year. Perhaps this is true on some level - I must admit I'm not completely up to date on my retail conspiracies. But it has always been my view that holidays give us an opportunity to celebrate things that need celebrating: our parents, our friends, freedom, gratitude, and in the case of February 14th, the great gift of love.

I am happy to be able to report that I was treated to one of the nicest Valentine's Days I can remember. The day began with breakfast in bed, served on a tray with a homemade cappuccino. At lunchtime, Steve arrived at the office to take me out, bearing a dozen red roses - cliché for sure, but they became cliché for a reason. It is always wonderful to be given flowers. We enjoyed a nice lunch at a nearby Thai restaurant. Then, after work, I picked up the fixings to make "breakfast for dinner." I replicated a favorite invented dish of ours from Rose's Deli: The Triple Pepper Omelet (pepper bacon, pepper jack, and red peppers). It was the general opinion that my homemade omelet was even tastier than the restaurant version. We toasted with mimosas, played a few games of Boggle, and then I made heart-shaped chocolate chip waffles with raspberry-maple syrup for dessert - accompanied by another round of homemade cappuccinos. We ended the evening with a bubble bath, with a CD of our wedding music playing in the background.

All in all, a terrific day.

Of course, what made it great was not just the "things" that I was made or given. The best part was spending quality time with my husband, my best friend. We had some great talks throughout the day over each meal, and there was a sense of increased closeness and intimacy at the end of the day. It's amazing to me how you can feel very close to someone, and then realize it's possible to be closer still. That is the power of love.

Also, it has to be said that this Valentine's Day afforded me a valuable learning opportunity, thanks to a favor requested of me by Daniel. Did you realize that there is a law restricting the overnight shipment of perfume?

It's true (as seen on the website of Marilyn Miglin beauty products):

The United States federal government considers perfume, eau de parfum and cologne to be Hazardous Material, due to its alcohol content. Therefore, according to new regulations, these fragrance items may not be shipped via air delivery without a “HazMat” fee of $30 imposed upon Federal Express. In addition, it is illegal for these items to be sent through the United States Postal Service.

So, if there are any of you out there who still think that Valentine's Day represents a real hazard that is putting the lives of our children at risk.......well, perhaps you have a point.

Personally, I'll still be drawing hearts around the date this time next year.

“What the world really needs is more LOVE

and less paper work.” -Pearl Bailey

TMC in the Desert

I've just finished up the first day of the two-day TMC February Event in Scottsdale, AZ. The Masters' Coach group is a gathering of top mortgage professionals (31 this year) who have reached a certain level of success in their careers. The program involves One-on-One Coaching as well as Quarterly Events such as this one. The weather was great, the property is first-rate, but the highlight of my day was most definitely the people!

I always look forward to these events because they are an amazing recharge for me. Even doing what I do, at such an amazing company, I still need to be reminded from time to time about the purpose behind my labor. Here at these events, I get to be face-to-face with the people we are impacting, and hear about their challenges and triumphs firsthand. I am rarely more certain of being in just the right place in my work than when I am at an event.

I still recall my very first event at L'Auberge Del Mar, arriving into this room full of familiar names but strange faces, uncertain of my exact role and how I fit in. Everyone was cordial, and a few made me feel more at ease, but still it was hard not to be intimidated by a room full of very successful people.

What I have come to realize, however, is that there is nothing really intimidating about these people. Yes, some of them do suffer from being Hyperpro and need to show off how cool their cars are and how snobbish they can be about their wine; there is no getting around that. But the more involved I have been in the process of planning and executing these events, the more I see that TMC only works if we fill it with people who are genuine, willing to share, and have a desire not just to make more money, but to make a positive difference in the mortgage industry while maintaining a balanced life. The cool thing is, just about everyone in the room is willing to be transparent enough to admit that they're not doing that perfectly - they don't have it all figured out just yet - and yet they truly want to improve. And so, they are able to help each other do just that.

Selfishly, though, it's a great experience because of how freely everyone shows their appreciation for my role in putting these events together. Much to my amusement, I routinely receive credit for how delicious the meals are.....even though I am convinced that I could throw darts at the menu list and each dish would be as delicious as the next. So, since I'm going to have to eat it too, I just pick whatever sounds tasty to me! But I won't deny that a lot of long hours and thoughtful planning go into each event, and as my role in putting these things together has grown, it's a wonderful and sometimes overwhelming experience to have people showering gratitude on me.

This afternoon, we took the group on a desert hike with the goal of helping them get to know each other better. We told them to ask one another about the focus of their business in the year ahead. What we didn't quite anticipate was that this was a fairly strenuous hike (and I know that is a VERY relative term). The path was steep, the terrain rocky, and the sun bright. Of course, in February it's hard to complain too much about heat or sunshine! But I love the fact that everyone took on the challenge with a good-natured attitude, focused on the great exercise they were getting, the beautiful weather, and the stunning views of the surrounding area. It really was breathtaking, in more ways than one!

I was also impressed by the way that the conversations moved along. I saw people connecting with others they had never met before, staying on task with the questions we'd provided quite often, but breaking sometimes into more personal conversations. I also felt pleased with my own easy ability to engage people in conversation during the hike and throughout the day.

Dinner this evening was relaxed and fun, probably due in large part to the fact that I found myself at the "wine table." At every event, the wine-lovers of the group bring some favorite bottles to share at the group dinner, and everyone who happens to be at their table is treated to as much as they care to try. Tonight, Paul Hirschauer ordered up several bottles of a Pinot Noir he had tried the night before and loved. I helped myself to a glass, only to discover that it was actually the wine produced the the parents of Christine Gerrie, our Sales Assistant at BC!!!! It was fun to discover that connection, and the wine was really very good (and I'm not just saying that in case Christine ever reads this).

I'm tired for sure, but looking foward to another great day tomorrow. Being here among such a driven but caring group of people inspires me to strive even harder to live out the values we have at BC, so that I can be a credit to my company and a positive reflection of our culture.

Maybe it's just the wine talking, but it really is a special experience!

Too Many Choices

Recently my dad, who is the Director of Insurance at AAA Oregon, was offered a very cool career opportunity. It seemed like the perfect blend of his talents, his experience, and his passion (in this case, BMW Motorcycles). However, it also carried with it a great deal of uncertainty, and lacked the stability and certain retirement plan of his job with AAA. He didn't go out in search of this opportunity because of any deep dissatisfaction with AAA - it essentially fell into his lap, and he knew he would regret it if he didn't at least look into it, but he had no strong motivation to leave, either.

Once he was offered the new job, he had a choice to make. I discussed this with my mom at length, and she petitioned our ladies' Bible study group for prayers. Both of my parents seemed torn about this decision....should he go with what seemed like a dream job, or stick with what was stable and certain?

My mom tends to worry about things - I know this because I have inherited the trait from her. We both know that we need to just trust in the Lord to guide our decisions, protect the people we love, and work all things for good as He has promised. But let's face it - that is not easy! As women, we want to go in and fix things, to make them right, and to make the right decisions so that our life story and the life stories of those we care about will have a happy ending. Unfortunately, we live in the kind of world where innocent people are oppressed and bad things can happen to good people. The four-year-old child in me wants to pound my fists and cry out "It's not fair!!"

And yet, "we know that God works all things for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) I have this verse written on a post-it note stuck to my computer monitor because I often need to be reminded of this.

At church this past Sunday, Pastor Guy spoke about our calling as Christians (you can listen to this sermon on the River West website, see link on the right). He said that we are called to be "a kingdom of priests," which I'll admit, didn't sound all that exciting to me at first. But when he talked about the role of priests as "traffic cops at the intersection of hurt and hope," guiding a hurting world toward the hope of Christ, then things started to click. He also made a point which spurred a spirited discussion at our small group this week: that THIS is our Calling. And when people come to him and ask "should I move there or stay here? marry this person or not? take this job or that job?" that he just refers them back to their Calling. If you weigh the decision against this calling, you will make the right decision.

In this 31 flavors, have-it-your-way, half-decaf-grande-soy-extra-foam-latte society, we have so many choices! It can be paralyzing at times, the complexity of it all. I sometimes find myself standing in front of a menu board at Starbucks, and I know their offerings backwards and forwards, and yet I cannot make a simple decision that will have very little repercussions in the grand scheme of my life. With so many small decisions to make, how can we ever make the big ones?

"It's a typical situation in these typical times
Too many choices..."
-Dave Matthews, "Typical Situation"

That's probably why my mom's comment last week made so much sense to me, because when I really thought about it, it was one of the most freeing ideas I had ever heard. We were discussing my dad's job options, and she said, "I've decided that I don't need to worry about this, and I'm fine with either decision your dad makes. We've prayed about it, and others have prayed for us, so I know that whichever decision he makes, it will be the right decision."

She didn't say, "It will be OK," or "either decision would be fine." She said, "It will be the right decision."

Sometimes I think all we need to do is ask God to go with us, no matter which path we take. He has a plan for our lives, but he also gave us free will, and I believe that He delights in us asking for His wisdom and including Him in our decisions. But ultimately, he expects us to decide for ourselves. The great news is that He works all things for good - our mistakes and our bad decisions, our flawed selfish thinking and our self-righteousness. I can sometimes picture Him with a hand on my shoulder, smiling and shaking His head and wondering if I will ever learn. Always, though, He is there.

How can I go wrong?

Incidentally, we know that God will be at work at AAA, where my dad has decided to stay. Was the nice pay increase they offered a sign from God that this was His will? Hmm......that's a question my 7:26am brain can't quite tackle. But I know that He is there, and His plan is in place no matter what the future holds.

The Most Depressing Day of the Year

Monday was kind of a lousy day around the office. I woke up with a headache that wouldn't go away, and I wasn't the only one - most everyone I talked to seemed to be suffering from a general achiness, dizziness, and just feeling out of sorts. Nothing particularly horrible happened, but the weight of everyday tasks was heavy on the shoulders of everyone around.

Then I heard something interesting.....a psychologist in Wales, Cliff Arnall, had apparently labeled Monday, January 22nd as "Blue Monday" - the most depressing day of the year. There are several factors in his calculation: lousy weather, holiday debt, failed new years' resolutions, etc. (You can hear more about it on NPR's website: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6939432&ft=1&f=1001)

I was struck by the truth of this calculation - not only because I'd experienced it myself, but because there seemed to be so much common sense behind it. How does anyone get through this time of year?

But then it occurred to me......someone, somewhere was having not just a good day, but the best day of their life. Maybe their first child was just born when they thought they couldn't conceive. Maybe they won the local lottery. Maybe they got engaged, or met their true love, or committed their life to Christ. Come to think of it, I would bet that within the vast population of the world, a LOT of people were probably having a wonderful day.

Arnall also mentioned in his interview that Friday, June 22nd is the happiest day of the year. This made perfect sense to me, especially because it's only two days after my birthday. Odds are good that I will have a great day! But again, there will probably be people who lose their job (it's a Friday, after all), discover a cheating spouse, figure out they don't have enough left in their checking account to buy groceries......any number of devastating events.

It's certainly interesting and possibly useful to know that there are external factors that can combine to wreak havoc on our spirit. But they're not necessarily tied to a date on the calendar. I love the lyrics of the Sunscreen Song (actually written by Mary Schmich of the Chicago Tribune):

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Or, to put it another way....

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. -Matthew 6:34

Life is definitely full of trouble, but it is also filled with many wonderful things, too. Monday wasn't all bad this week - I had a great study with some ladies that evening about Anger, and got to visit with friends and snuggle up with my hubby that night. And you know what? On Tuesday morning, my headache was gone, and I got to experience the most wonderful sunrise.

So even if you really are in the midst of a dark time, the great news is that there is always something good coming around the corner - even if you have to wait until June 22nd to experience a brighter day.

My First Entry

A blank text box. A narrow cursor blinks tauntingly at me. How on earth does one begin their first blog entry....?

I have started this blog as part of a weekly commitment to spend an hour a week writing. This is part of a "Team Accountability Challenge" which I helped to initiate, and this is one of the disciplines to which I have committed. Perhaps I should BE committed, but I suppose if that's true then I am more than qualified to have my own blog on the "Wonderful World of the Wide Web." When I conceived of this discipline, I would have been content to just capture some thoughts in a Word document, save them in my "Users" file for a while, and then eventually re-read and delete these documents in a fit of embarrassment. But Lynne, my supervisor, had a different idea.....she suggested I start a blog, to document my weekly musings and even allow other people to READ what I'm writing. No pressure.

I have no idea at this point how many people will read this drivel, or if it will develop over time from drivel to something worth reading. That's my secret hope, anyway.

Hey, if you type something onto a blog and call it "secret", it no longer is....is it?

It's very dark outside right now, and quiet here in the office. I decided that I'll be more disciplined (there's that word again) about getting this done if I slot time for it at the START of my day, knowing how easily I can get distracted in the post-4:30pm world. So, I suppose this is some sort of a disclaimer.....I am writing this VERY early in the morning, and I am NOT a morning person by nature. But I think it could be a positive thing that my mind is perhaps a little more loosely collected in the morning hours, because I'm less likely to self-edit and more likely to let the words flow - either to my benefit, or to your detriment.

I do love words. Steve and I have been engaging in games of Boggle lately - more like tournaments, really - because of another discipline to which I have committed: no TV on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. With the absence of mindless entertainment, I have found mind-stimulating entertainment to be a shockingly wonderful substitute. It's very satisfying to me to find unusual and difficult words embedded in the Boggle cubes.......words like "quitted" or "taper" or "taunt." We play with some pretty strict house rules - 4-letter minimum, no adding an "s" to make a word plural, no proper nouns or foreign words, etc. We end up having some pretty heated discussions about whether a word qualifies as foreign, or whether it is used commonly enough in English to count. We always have to keep a dictionary handy when we play, because Steve is forever using words from his biology classes that I don't believe exist, and I am forever using Biblical words or words from Jane Austen novels that HE doesn't believe exist. Words like "pram," "thou," "quid," or "anon." Each of us inevitably has at least one moment during the game where we throw open the dictionary, bent on proving the other has just made up a word, and find ourselves scowling at that very word on the page. We usually read the definition with a sarcastic tone - as if to say, "You didn't really know that was a word....it's just some obscure thing and you got lucky that it actually qualifies to be in the dictionary - and what kind of stupid dictionary is this anyway?" - sigh heavily, and reluctantly surrender the point.

It's amazing how passionate we both can be about the words that we know. Of course, it's quite satisfying when I see a "made-up science word" that he is forever using on me, and he doesn't. A little in-your-face Boggle taunting is sure to follow.

Yes, I do enjoy words. So it's my hope that I will also enjoy stringing them together in some sort of cognitive fashion here in this blog.

Here goes!