Science is Weird.

Dear Mr. Clean Magic Eraser,

I find you to be both amazing and creepy at the same time.

You help me with all sorts of problems around the house.

Most recently, cleaning off the kicks.

 

 

I appreciate this immensely, as now they look like new.

And yet – you disintegrate into nothing, and this bothers me.

Love,

Me

Thank Goodness for Bloggers . . .

. . . because someone needs to write consistently for the internet.  

I like to read blogs.

I actually like writing this one.

I just can’t seem to regularly make time to write.

I will continue to battle that.

But if you’re looking for something to read in the meantime, here are a few of my favorite bloggers, and links to some of my favorite posts from them.

And I’ll continue to try to get my shite together more often.

MySavvy Boys – Not only is my friend K Savvy an excellent writer, her boys are amazing and hilarious and provide her with great material. She has so many great posts, so I’ve decided to share a couple:

§  A favorite Benny Post - http://www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/03/another-letter-to-benny-cookie-crisis.html

§  A favorite Anth Post - http://www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/03/this-i-believe-or-at-least-anth-does.html

§  Perfect insight into my good friend Krystyne- http://www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/01/little-more-homework-to-do.html

TheBloggess – This post made me want to be this woman’s friend. When I need a random laugh, and the Savvy family doesn’t have any updates, I go here. Prepare to become obsessed with finding giant metal chickens. http://thebloggess.com/2011/06/and-thats-why-you-should-learn-to-pick-your-battles/

Momastery – A great “mommy” blog – that’s not just about being a mom. Her insight into humanity is quite inspiring. Some might find some of her stuff a little “churchy” . . . but the heartfelt kindness and grace flows through without judgment. http://momastery.com/blog/2012/03/26/for-trayvon/

Anthology – This is my favorite little shop in Madison. I’ve taken (dragged?) all friends and visitors downtown just to visit this hidden gem. The owner also makes me think, whether about the pitfalls of Pinterest (which opened my eyes and saddened me at the same time), or inspired me to keep paying attention to the political hotbed that is our state political system. I heart them.

http://anthology.typepad.com/anthology/2012/03/feeling-feisty.html

CurlyGirl Design – LOVE the curly girl, and not just because I want to ask her for hair product advice. Thoughtful and creative, her posts always hit the spot! I also feel good about buying her cards if I can't make my own, or find them to have the perfect sentiment.

http://curlygirldesign.com/blog/view/spring_2012_sneak_peek_6

Apparently I read a lot of blogs. I’ll stop here for now, and make a promise to share some more in the future.

It's time to admit . . . I have an addiction.

To paper.

I went to JoAnn's - my craft Mecca - to purchase some [ahem] more paper-organizing products, because what I have is currently getting out of hand and hard to organize.

Perhaps this is because. Well. Apparently . . .

I CAN’T STOP BUYING PAPER.

I almost bought more tonight.
Of some 4x6 Jewel tones, in case you’re wondering.
Because I don’t have that yet.
And Jewel Tones are so very different from the “Bold” and “Bright” packs I currently have.

Clearly.

You know you're in trouble when . . .

. . . your quote of the day makes your boss and staff think about ...



prune juice.


"Overcome the notion that you must be regular.
It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary." - Uta Hagen


Womp, womp.

Damn You, OPE!!*

[**Just to clarify, I don’t damn that lovely conference at all . . . just served me well as a catchy title!]

It snowed today.

“A lot.”

This is a big deal, as I think it’s snowed maybe 4 whole days this winter.

Like everywhere else, our winter in Wisconsin has been pretty mild.

And frankly, quite weird.

Last year at this time we had around 100 inches of snow.

This year we’ve had 24.

Tonight we got around 5 more.

So it’s kind-of a big deal.

[I should also say, while we’re here, that this makes me VERY NERVOUS for what Mother Nature is going to bring our way. I just can’t believe that this is IT. But I REALLY hope it is because I’m enjoying this ‘winter’ immensely.]

It was VERY pretty.

The snow was also wet and heavy and gross. I walked into a meeting today feeling like a football player wearing eye black, thanks to the walk TO the meeting and the aforementioned snow attacking my mascara. Classy.

But I digress.

I realized tonight that this snow is because OPE is this weekend in good ole’ Oshkosh, WI.

I’m not there, but when I have been, there has always been a huge snowstorm.

Every. Time.

I should be there, especially as I’m spending the next two weeks doing many phone interviews. Though I’m pretty sure if I suggested to this group of folks that they should meet me in a residence hall room in Oshkosh for an interview, too many of them might run away screaming. Not something we often do for a facilities staff interview.

Which is too bad . . . it’s a great opportunity to interview a huge number of folks in person – which, in my humble opinion, is so much nicer than interviewing on the phone. (Can you tell I have fond memories of all my OPE experiences? Because I do. Big fan.]

But I digress. Again.

Thinking about the OPE snowstorm made me think of my second trip there – when I was in grad school, looking for my first position post-master’s degree. We had a van of fun people who made it to Oshkosh and back safely. Which was pretty amazing considering the conditions. I won’t mention any names, but there were a few who weren’t comfortable driving in the city (that might have been most of the van), a couple who were undergrads who couldn’t drive (I can’t remember why … would have been helpful!) and a couple who WE weren’t comfortable driving us in a van. So . .. that left two of us. And, having been one of those two, I can confidently say that we were champs. That drive home in that snowstorm sucked tremendously. Thank goodness our passengers were such supportive colleagues (as all great student affairs professionals are), and encouraged us during the rough times.

Ah . . . . THOSE were the days!

Regardless of what side of the table you’re on this weekend, I hope you have a successful and fun OPE experience. Be yourself. J

Got Mail?

I’m back.

And apparently perpetually behind on life.

“Life” apparently means: sending out birthday cards, cleaning my apartment, blogging, going to the gym, catching up with friends, finding a new hair product that makes my hair behave . . . you know . . . life.

*sigh*

I’m working on it. Like everyone else on the planet.

Luckily, I have kind friends who remind me every now and again that since I’m behind on everything (not what they remind me of), and I’m not blogging, and we can’t seem to connect on the phone, they have no idea what’s going on in my life.

I know.

I’m sorry.

I have no excuses.

I was going to list off some of the things that I HAVE accomplished recently, but very few things have come to mind. I’m sure that’s the glass-half-empty tendency and high expectations for myself that I have.

I mean . . . surely I’ve accomplished SOMETHING.

I did get up and shower and go to work today. I even braided my hair (because aforementioned hair products are not providing me with the curl I desire).

But enough whining. That’s not what this post was going to be about. And so I’m just going to skip over that part entirely and move on.

Hi.

I’ve spent the last couple of hours attacking one of the craft tables that is currently taking over my living room. It’s been piled high with a multitude of craft projects, junk mail, too many magazines I haven’t read and those damn scratch-off coupon/game/things from the grocery store that are now expired. I’m able to see portions of the actual table, so I’m making progress, but it’s not usable yet. Though I’m confident it will be by the end of the week. [And then I’ll tackle that OTHER craft table that I put up in December to help a friend with a craft project. And is still here today.]

Anyway, while sorting and recycling and organizing, I was also thinking about a blog post that a friend tweeted recently. (Thanks VKR!)It’s about a woman who has decided to revive the art of letter-writing– and has devoted the month of February to writing people she knows – and sending them letters – IN THE MAIL. [Imagine that!]

It seemed like a cool project, but as many who know me know, I have enough damn projects to keep me occupied well into my 90’s. However, as I was sorting through all the card-making and scrapbooking supplies, it dawned on me that I have sent very few cards lately. [Lately being defined as at least the past year].

I used to send postcards to friends and family when I travelled – now I sometimes buy them, and I’m still carrying them around, thinking I’ll get around to it.

I also used to send a note or card ‘just because’ or to celebrate a holiday, or when someone needed a motivational pick-me-up. Love via the post office, if you will. And this piece of my life has been an epic fail. I’ve been great about giving out birthday cards to my staff, but I’m afraid that the rest of the people in my life have fallen off the radar. And I’d like to remedy that. Putting a card in the mail for someone, knowing how nice it is to get mail-that-isn’t-a-bill, it’s pretty great.

And so, for the month of March, I’m going to write to one person each day. If you would like to be a recipient of some snazzy mail, send me a message – either by facebook or email. If you don’t think I have it, include your address. It will help the post office figure out where you live. :) Help me get back to being me. Maybe we'll become penpals.

p.s. Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of a card that has a picture on it? With a camera phone? Why must something so seemingly simple turn out to be such a challenge?

p.p.s. I apologize for the ridiculously outdated background on the blog. It's clearly been awhile. It will get changed. Eventually. But isn't a new post better than new wallpaper? That's what I thought.

Witty Wednesday: Midwest Inspiration

Here's me, trying something new. I love quotations and sharing them - via a cute card, at the top of an agenda, or whenever something reminds me of someone. So . . . I'm thinking that maybe I'll start "blogging more" by sharing a weekly quote. On a Wednesday. We'll see . . . maybe someone can help me with a better title.

At any rate . . . there are two quotes I found that I think it'll be great to share with you. Especially those of you who identify with the concept of "the midwest people." [I found these quotes in my Midwest Living Magazine - a gift that gives me new ideas for place to go and things to do in this area of the country. Thanks, Mom!]

"Let's just say we Midwesterners choose what works, and only what works, and leave the rest behind. That's why we're the ultimate test market, and why marketers proclaim: 'If it doesn't play in the Heartland, it won't play.' I consider 'Midwest' as an honest, approachable, easy style of personal vision." - Amy Butler (Ohio Designer)

"William Maxwell used to say about Illinois that it was his 'Imagination's Home.' There is something about the Midwest that I've tried to get into my stories: the odd politeness of the people here, their secretiveness, their wish to do good.' - Charles Baxter (Minnesota professor)