Back to Basics

Hello world! According to Blogger, my last blog post was March 10. That equates to a little over five months. It really feels like five weeks. It's been a wild and crazy spring and summer and as fall approaches, I'm realizing more that I need to take a break and get back to the things I love.

I think about my blog often and have difficulty with deciding what to blog about. So much happens in the course of a day, it can be a bit overwhelming. All of the writers I respect advise to "write no matter what". I've decided to keep myself accountable and help myself out a bit.

I'm getting back to basics - the alphabet. There are 26 letters in the alphabet. I am committing to beginning at the beginning - of the alphabet - and choosing a word that starts with a different letter of the alphabet each time. I will start with 'A' and end with 'Z'. That gives me four months to blog 26 times. That should be easy enough, right?

Stay tuned...

~S

Procrastination

Last weekend Jamaal and I took a yuppie field trip to Target. (Don't be offended, you know that's what yuppie couples do. Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, all the same. Embrace your yuppiness.)

After finishing our shopping trip, we ventured over to Barnes & Noble. In resisting the temptation for a grande mocha,I ventured over to the reduced books section. I noticed a book about procrastination and thought "I need that." I wondered around more and ended up in the original spot with the procrastination book.
Don't get me wrong. I get the things that are necessary completed fairly easily. However, I often find difficulty starting, nevertheless accomplishing, the things on my "Dream Big, Life's Too Short, Anything is Possible, To Do List". Who or what I'm waiting for, I don't know.

Since I was there, I read the book jacket and found it to be quite enlightening. The book basically asserts that while some view procrastination and workaholicism as two different things, the author believes they are actually two components that work together to form a cycle-procrastination (generally a lack of work) creates workaholicism (an overabundance of work). People either become addicted to the extremes or become conditioned to operating this way. Interesting thought and, describes my pattern perfectly. I walked around with the book but decided not to buy it because I would be recreating the pattern that the book is describing. I didn't need one more item on my neverending to do list.

But, it prompted a new perspective. I have decided to confront my procrastination head on and get some things crossed off my list.

Stay tuned...

P.S. Did you know that an & is not allowed in a tag in Blogger? So I can't use Barnes & Noble? Really?

Mother Bear

I now know what a Mother Bear who has lost her cub feels like-insane, helpless, super sad and mad as hell, all at the same time. Yesterday morning, I got up, got dressed, ate breakfast and Jamaal and I left together. He went to work while I was on my way to a four-day training course (more on that later). The sun was out and I only needed a light jacket-it was going to be a good day. Until I realized that I had left my Blackberry at home. I honestly felt faint and nauseous and like I was going to cry.

Now, I'm really not that into myself to presume that someone would have a nervous breakdown if I didn't respond to their email or call immediately however I have joined the constantly growing group of people who depend on technology to organize their lives and feel connected to the world.

I eventually pulled myself together and realized a larger problem. I only wear a watch 1-2 times per year-only when it matches my outfit. My BlackBerry has become my watch. Without it, I have absolutely no concept of what time is. This becomes a problem when you have to be places at certain times.

I made it to my training and made it through the day and bolted, literally bolted to the train to get home. And of course, during rush hour, everyone is on their phone, checking email, Twittering, and communicating all willy-nilly. I swear I could hear their keystrokes over the music I was listening to on my iPod. And yes, I did think they were mocking me.

When I finally got home, of course I hadn't missed any important calls and the most important email was from Gap, Inc. about spring fashion. I hope I've not become or that I'm not turning into one of "those people" but I'm not ashamed to admit that there is some comfort in having the ability to communicate with those you love (or those who you may not be a fan of) and interact with the world. Albeit from a small metal box that fits in the palm of your hand.

Let's Do It Right This Time

We learned a tragic yet invaluable lesson from Hurricane Katrina. A delayed response and limited resources made it very difficult for governmental agencies and relief workers to get to those who needed their help.

Let's do it right this time. Support a reputable organization like the American Red Cross who has hit the ground running with their fundraising efforts. Text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 or visit their website at www.redcross.org.

Check out these photos, courtesy of the Chicago Red Cross, at www.flickr.com/photos/chicagoredcross.

~S

Objectionable Content

Like any good guardian, when I started my blog I became very protective of it, taking time to think about topics, trying to keep it current, directing web traffic, etc.

Things were going well until one day, I logged in to find this menacing banner across the top that said "Objectionable Content". I tried to edit the page and remove it but there was nothing I could do about it. FYI-The "Objectionable Content" function allows you to flag blogs or websites that you come across that contain offensive or inappropriate images or content. It basically puts the web administrator on alert that there may be something shady that they should look into.

Of course, I took this quite personal and started to brainstorm ideas about who would do such a thing and possibly what I could have written that would have offended someone. After a couple of days, I laughed it off and kept it at the back of my mind until last week...

After posting my last blog entry, I decided to peruse some other blogs via the "Next Blog" function in Blogger. After looking away only briefly, I realized that my cursor was hovering over the "Flag" button. Mortified, I realized that as easy as it would have been for me to inadvertently hit the button, the same unfortunate thing could have happened to one of my readers!

So, I apologize to those who I secretly suspected of sabotaging my blog. Suspicion can sometimes run rampant! But then again, I guess I'm in the right field of work!

Happy Reading,
S

Getting in Shape - UFC Style

One of the most common questions that Jamaal and I have been asked over the last few months is, "So, what have you been up to since your move?"

After we moved, we wanted gym memberships to go along with our fresh start. Nothing too involved, something easy that fit along with our natural routines that we could utilize when we needed and stay generally healthy. So, the answer to this question is, "L.A. Boxing."

It couldn't be farther from "easy" or "not too involved" but we have nonetheless fallen in love with it. Imagine UFC training in a group for an hour and more sweat than you know what to do with, three to four times a week. We are focused more on Mixed Martial Arts and have gotten our yellow belts (No worries, we're nowhere near black belt status). Jamaal has also been training in Krav Maga. (Google it - it's kinda intense.)

It was a much needed change after a month or so of brunches, lunches, dinners, drinks and appetizers from our "impending move" celebrations with family and friends. Outside of dropping pounds and developing healthier, non-restrictive eating habits, it has become a part of our natural routine (it's still not easy though) and the people we have met along the way have become a part of our new DC network. We'll be on this road for a while and I'll keep you posted on our accomplishments.

Want to try it? You'll be happy to know that they have more than 70 locations nationwide (2 of which are in Chicago in the South Loop and Wrigleyville). If you have time, stop by and take a trial class and think of us while you're dying in the corner!

~S

Wow, it's 2010....

Can you believe it's been a whole year?! Exactly one year ago I started my blog and although I wasn't able to commit to it as much as I envisioned, I don't regret it. When I wasn't blogging, life was happening and it brought about some pretty cool things.

Jamaal and I have relocated and are adjusting to our new life fairly well. 2009 was full of many unexpected things that if you had asked me about them on January 1, 2009, I probably would have laughed in your face and kindly responded, "I don't think so."

So, now it's a whole new year with a whole new set of goals. I don't like to get too caught up in the New Year's resolution business because I generally feel that the only promise I'll make to myself is that if something didn't go well last year, either I won't do it again or I will make it a point to do it even better the next time. I am working on a general list of things I want and need to accomplish this year and I will share this list with you over time.

I do, however, aim to blog more and keep in touch. But I won't promise it will be everyday (I've learned, it's too much pressure!) - unless someone takes such a great interest in what I have to say and asks to sponsor my blog! LOL

Here's to a great 2009 and an even better 2010!

~S

P.S. - I'd love to hear about your resolutions, goals, etc. for the New Year - leave it in a comment!