I have a friend in law school right now and as part of his class, they discuss prior court cases that are complex and noteworthy. It just so happens that they are currently discussing a case that involves my home turf – Vashon Island. When the judge who oversaw the court proceedings came to speak about the case, he started out the conversation with, “You never want to have a case in Vashon – those people are weird. First of all, they live on an island ….”
It’s pretty hard to argue with him – our local coffee shop sells bumper stickers that actually say, “KEEP VASHON WEIRD.” AND they do it proudly. It’s actually one of the many charms about living in this rural island community.
Despite the colorful people that live here, there are still folks that you wonder about. For instance, there’s this guy who has a hook where his hand should be. I’ve always wondered how it happened, but a recent article in the Seattle PI kept me waiting no more:
ON ANOTHER NOTE …
I am participating in a campaign with LG (and Jane Lynch!) where I’ve been selected as a LG TextEd Ambassador. Each week we discuss issues around teens and texting. This weeks topic? Setting Ground Rules for Your Teen’s Mobile Phone Use. You can read what some opinionated ladies have to say about it right here. Each comment left on the posts listed below benefits DoSomething.org with a $0.50 donation up to $5,000!
Just the other day my friend Matt and I were walking down the ferry dock together and had this conversation:
Matt: Wait! I see a gray hair.
Me: Yes, the have been appearing with greater frequency.
Matt: I hope your whole head of hair turns white.
Me: That is the meanest thing anyone has ever said to me.
Matt: I mean, I think it would look cool.
Me: Dude, I am only 36. I have a long way to go.
But it’s true. Gray hairs have been popping up all over my head. It wouldn’t been so obvious if I had say, BLONDE HAIR. But I am Asian and my hair is black. What can I do? They are sprouting up and multiplying all over the place. I can’t stop it, I can only get rid of them.
My friend Rene, who is a bit superstitious, snips her gray hair at the scalp. Why doesn’t she just pluck them out? Well, I am glad you asked! She heard that if you pluck one gray hair out, 10 more will sprout out in it’s place. It may be superstitious, but she’s not taking any chances.
I attribute the arrival of more gray hair to my increased anxiety over being a parent. Man, I thought those diaper years were hard. In retrospect, babies can’t drive, don’t talk back and are generally congenial when they’ve been burped and their diapers have been changed. Teenagers on the otherhand are crafty – they pretend like they don’t need you even though they really do. They test your boundaries and all your patience. It’s annoying.
I wish I had some sort of handbook for raising teenagers (any suggestions?) or a parent of my own to ask advice from, but I don’t. I can only proceed hoping that I don’t mess things up too bad. Gah! I have a headache.
Over the weekend I did a quick email interview with Danielle from The Mommy Chronicles. One of the 5ish questions was, “Looking forward where do you see yourself and your blog going in the next few years?”
Answer: I have no idea.
Actually, like most people, I have some semblance of what I’d like to happen but unlike most people I have no discernable road map of how to get there. As a person who has issues with paying attention to something for more than 12 minutes, it takes a tremendous amount of effort just to figure out what to have for breakfast. The thought of knowing whats going to happen 3 months, 6 months, 12 months out is comedic. This is obviously a problem.
Anyone who is anyone in goal setting/time management/self-help realm will be able to tell you that pretty much nothing happens as planned unless you ACTUALLY HAVE A PLAN. I know, it takes me a while to get basic things.
One of my main problems is the fact that there are too many methods of planning and goal setting. It can be overwhelming. I go to Barnes and Noble, find a book (Know Your Strengths! 7 Habits of Highly Effective People! What Color Is Your Parachute?!?) and go to town. Sadly, by the time I’ve read the last page I’ve lost my drive to do anything. Three months later I go to Barnes and Noble again to buy another book (new puppy!), then I read that book, do a couple of venn diagram exercises and then lose steam again. Fast forward about six months later and I go to Barnes and Noble again, buy yet another book … well, I think you get the picture. At this point I have a goal to articulate my goals.
Welcome to the inner workings of my brain.
Given that it’s my 2 year plus 1 day blogoversary, I thought it fitting that I start thinking about what my goals are for the next 2 years. I originally thought about doing a Mighty List, as first coined by Maggie Mason, but that just seems too big.
I think I’ll start with writing a list down – on actual paper, using an actual pen! I know, earth shattering, right? I am gonna forgo the buying a new book this time and head directly to creating venn diagrams and flow charts and ladders of success. Stay tuned.
I found this YouTube video of Gary Vaynerchuck’s Web 2.0 Expo Keynote on someone else’s blog (sorry I can’t remember!). Despite all of Gary’s larger than life personality and in your face charisma, I love the fact that he says, “stop crying, start hustlin.”
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