Confessions of ANOTHER raging hot mess

I borrowed this title from my friend K Savvy. She wrote a post a while ago about how she did not, in fact, have it together. [ www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/05confessions-of-raging-hot-mess.html ] As usual, her post was hilarious. It was also quite poignant with a perfect reminder - "so i thought i would fess up and share a few of the things that make me feel like a walking disaster. maybe if we all did that a little more, we would all know that we're all doing our best." You should read her post, because it's pretty damn great.

When I read her post the first time, I nodded my head, and felt like I could respond in the comments section with many examples. Except nothing came to mind. But I've been paying attention this week, and thought I would share a few of my "what the hell?" "I need more sleep" and "stress will kill you" moments I've had.
- I might have had all three of those thoughts occur to me at lunch the other day. I attempted to prepare one of those new lean cuisine steamers. Except that instead of letting it steam first, I CUT IT OPEN. [Insert head shaking here.] Yeah, it can't STEAM if there's a big hole in the bag. *sigh*

Ever have that moment when searching your email for something, and you realize it's not in your inbox, it's in your sent box - so you switch over? And during that nanosecond, you absolutely have no idea what the hell it is you're supposed to be looking for. *sigh*

Today I wanted to listen to a cd while working on a project in the office. So I opened up the disc drive. Except I didn't. I shut the damn computer off. Helpful to reboot and start over and open and restart all emails and projects. *ugh*

The other day while making myself a lunch (after the failed "easy" lean cuisine), I put together a nice salad. And tried to put the lettuce away in the junk drawer. Not helpful - doesn't seem to provide the same kinds of experience for the lettuce like the crisper in the refrigerator does. Good job, me.

So, my friend Krystyne is right. We are not perfect. We do weird shite every day. I think it's because we need more sleep. But I also think it's good to own it and share with others - so I'm sharing with y'all. In case you were wondering whether or not I've got it together. 'Cuz clearly that's not happening . . . . :)

On, Wisconsin!

I seem to have a pattern of blogging [lately] on a 2 or 3 month cycle.

Fail.

 
Life has been busy – I’ve been contemplating a real estate purchase, spent a week “screen-free” (or pretty damn close, anyway), went to a drive-in conference about behavior  intervention teams and even got to make a quick trip to see some peeps in Columbus.

I also voted in an historic recall election for our governor and lt. governor.

Quite sadly, they’re both still in office. And so I, like many people I know and work with, are quite disappointed and a little deflated. And I’m pretty sure that’s an understatement of great proportion.

I’m trying to look at the bright side.

Like that I believe that democracy is pretty awesome. Still. People used their collective voices to say, “what you are doing is not okay. Your choices in fact, are unacceptable to us.” Almost a million signatures were obtained to even make the election happen. Only 2 other governors in history have been recalled.

TWO.

So I got to vote in a recall election. They clearly don’t happen very often.

Over 2.5 million people voted. They waited in lines in places that didn’t have enough ballots. They waited in line to vote absentee. They made homemade signs and stood on the streets, telling people to vote. They got people who have never before voted to go to the polls.

Power to the people.

It was awesome.

I’m trying to remember that, because right now it doesn’t feel awesome.

It’s disheartening and scary and still unbelievable.

 
But we are Wisconsin, and we will push Forward.

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