I got to thinking about exuberance after spending a day and a half with Tuck, my friends' highly active and extraordinarily sweet Yellow Lab/Husky mix this past weekend. At only 8 months or so old, Tuck is always ready to play and simply embodies exuberance.
In my state of relative resting yesterday and today -- yesterday because it was Sunday, and I'm taking the whole day of rest thing quite seriously these days, and today because I needed more taking-it-easy time with the froggy-throat-and-coughing thing that's been going on in my body since Friday -- I poked around on the web and came across three very different folks who also strike me as exuberant, each in his or her own way.
What they all have in common: They're young, they're inspired and they're inspiring.
Here's a rundown of who they are and what I like about them.
Justin Warner
Justin is the rebel with a culinary cause and the recent winner of Food Network Star, a show I did not watch. But my ear caught on what was said about him during the series and was replayed in the intro to his show Rebel Eats, which I watched and enjoyed.
Paula Deen: "I think he definitely thinks outside the box."
Alton Brown: "I'm not even sure he knows the box is there, ma'am."
And there you have the essence of Justin. He doesn't acknowledge any sort of box when he eats raw shrimp on the fishing boat right after it's caught, or brains and eggs, without batting an eye. I like Justin's witty, creative personable way of being, and I dig not only the premise of his show, but also the whole road trip aspect of it.
No wonder.
You can watch Rebel Eats online at the Food Network website.
Nadia G.
Although her bold, brash style may not be for everyone, Nadia G. seems to be authentically and unapologetically herself. I appreciate that unabashed quality and the way she brings it, along with her inventiveness, sense of humor and sheer genius in blending two seemingly unrelated concepts: cooking and comedy.
Check out many things Nadia G. -- from humorous videos to yummy-sounding recipes -- at the Cooking Channel website.
Chris Guillebeau
I found Chris's story earlier today through a link from MSNBC.com about travel hacking. I wasn't familiar with the term, so I clicked the link. I read just the first three posts on Chris's site -- Special Broadcast From the End of the World, Too Late: Notes from LHR T5 and This Magic Journey -- and was impressed with his eloquent and insightful writing and way of being. I'm looking forward to learning more about Chris and his work.
Read for yourself at The Art of Non-Conformity.
I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a theme here that goes beyond the young, inspired and inspiring thing. These folks are all non-conformists, and as time goes by, I suppose I'm increasingly accepting that quality in myself.
I also note that two of the three sites are about food and cooking. No wonder there. I love food, and I'm coming to love cooking.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Deadlines
"The ultimate inspiration is the deadline."
Apparently, Nolan Bushnell, founder of both Atari Inc. and the Chuck E. Cheese's chain of restaurants, said that. I know it to be true.
For a fact.
Case in point: Last night, I hit "Publish" on my blog post at 11:59 p.m., getting it in at the last possible minute -- literally -- so it would count for yesterday.
Mind you, I'm not officially participating in the Blogging From A to Z challenge, so if I were to be late, it's not like I'd get kicked out of the endeavor. But I am committed to challenging myself to do this without missing a day, a letter or a post during the remainder of this month.
There are plenty of other examples throughout my life of how inspiring a deadline can be. Although I could comb my childhood for some of them, the time it became strikingly apparent was in high school when I'd study for a test or write a paper the night before it was due. That was my pattern in college, too. As a result, I pulled many an all-nighter.
When I started writing for a living, I found that things just didn't start to come together until the deadline got nearer. That continues today. Even though ideas roam around in my mind and gestate, and they often make their way onto real or electronic paper in a brain dump, nothing gets solid until I actually plant my butt in a chair and have to make it happen.
I think deadline inspiration is part and parcel of having a creative mind -- though the phenomenon certainly is not limited to those we traditionally think of as creative, such as writers and artists. Maybe it's just part of the human condition.
Whatever it is, I'm grateful for the opportunity deadlines provide to simply get things done, like writing regularly for this blog. Otherwise, many posts might go by the wayside and remain in the world of things undone, keeping company with many of the very creative ideas I've been gifted with through the years but not acted on.
Tonight, I will hit "Publish" nearly three hours before the deadline. It feels good to get it done with a little breathing room.
Apparently, Nolan Bushnell, founder of both Atari Inc. and the Chuck E. Cheese's chain of restaurants, said that. I know it to be true.
For a fact.
Case in point: Last night, I hit "Publish" on my blog post at 11:59 p.m., getting it in at the last possible minute -- literally -- so it would count for yesterday.
Mind you, I'm not officially participating in the Blogging From A to Z challenge, so if I were to be late, it's not like I'd get kicked out of the endeavor. But I am committed to challenging myself to do this without missing a day, a letter or a post during the remainder of this month.
There are plenty of other examples throughout my life of how inspiring a deadline can be. Although I could comb my childhood for some of them, the time it became strikingly apparent was in high school when I'd study for a test or write a paper the night before it was due. That was my pattern in college, too. As a result, I pulled many an all-nighter.
When I started writing for a living, I found that things just didn't start to come together until the deadline got nearer. That continues today. Even though ideas roam around in my mind and gestate, and they often make their way onto real or electronic paper in a brain dump, nothing gets solid until I actually plant my butt in a chair and have to make it happen.
I think deadline inspiration is part and parcel of having a creative mind -- though the phenomenon certainly is not limited to those we traditionally think of as creative, such as writers and artists. Maybe it's just part of the human condition.
Whatever it is, I'm grateful for the opportunity deadlines provide to simply get things done, like writing regularly for this blog. Otherwise, many posts might go by the wayside and remain in the world of things undone, keeping company with many of the very creative ideas I've been gifted with through the years but not acted on.
Tonight, I will hit "Publish" nearly three hours before the deadline. It feels good to get it done with a little breathing room.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Cats and Dawgs
Well, it's really just one cat. But beautiful Bailey is enough of a strong female to represent her fellow felines and hold her own against her male canine cohort Tuck.
I've been hanging out with Tuck and Bailey at their place while my friends went away overnight. I, of course, brought my own male canine cohort, Clifford, along. Overall, we had fun. Tuck is a sweetheart who is also fond of chewing on Bailey's various body parts and pulling her tail with his mouth, of which she is not quite so fond -- though you wouldn't know it afterward when she seems to invite more of it. Clifford and Bailey are buddies. Clifford would love to call Tuck a friend, but that may not be solidified until Tuck gets over some of his still-puppy exuberance.
Here are some shots of the fabulous fur kids. And alliteration can indeed be annoying when overused, so I'll stop now.
I've been hanging out with Tuck and Bailey at their place while my friends went away overnight. I, of course, brought my own male canine cohort, Clifford, along. Overall, we had fun. Tuck is a sweetheart who is also fond of chewing on Bailey's various body parts and pulling her tail with his mouth, of which she is not quite so fond -- though you wouldn't know it afterward when she seems to invite more of it. Clifford and Bailey are buddies. Clifford would love to call Tuck a friend, but that may not be solidified until Tuck gets over some of his still-puppy exuberance.
Here are some shots of the fabulous fur kids. And alliteration can indeed be annoying when overused, so I'll stop now.
Buddies Clifford (left) and Bailey
Tuck alternating toys, because they both don't fit in his mouth at once (darn it!)
Tuck at attention, and Bailey watching from a distance
Another shot of the buds -- in a spot where Clifford feels the safest from Tuck's attempts to play
Friday, April 5, 2013
Blogging
Of all the writing I've done through the years -- magazine articles, website copy, brochures, executive communications, scripts and much more -- I find blogging to be, by far, the most enjoyable. I love how it can be lighthearted and fun, yet it is also can be a vehicle for delving into the more "trippy" and weighty matters of life.
When someone asks me what's new, often my response is, "Everything and nothing." I've been saying that for years. Life goes on, day by day, and though the outward circumstances may not look like they've changed much since I last connected with that person, everything is different.
Moment to moment. Literally.
Blogging is like that, too. It's made up of the everythingness and the nothingness of life. Many of the blogs I read on a daily basis are RV related, because just the thought of roaming the country in one lights my fire. But I also love me some Pioneer Woman, among others. One of these days I'll do a favorite blog list for y'all to peruse.
It's always a gift for me to get a view of life through a blogger's unique eyes. Thank you for having the heart to take a gander through mine.
When someone asks me what's new, often my response is, "Everything and nothing." I've been saying that for years. Life goes on, day by day, and though the outward circumstances may not look like they've changed much since I last connected with that person, everything is different.
Moment to moment. Literally.
Blogging is like that, too. It's made up of the everythingness and the nothingness of life. Many of the blogs I read on a daily basis are RV related, because just the thought of roaming the country in one lights my fire. But I also love me some Pioneer Woman, among others. One of these days I'll do a favorite blog list for y'all to peruse.
It's always a gift for me to get a view of life through a blogger's unique eyes. Thank you for having the heart to take a gander through mine.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Action
That's the keyword for the day. I'm taking action by writing my first post to catch up with the folks officially participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge (www.a-to-zchallenge.com), and it feels good -- particularly given that, until today, the last time I posted here was back in February.
I feel as if I blinked and nearly two months went by.
That's not unusual lately. Time is more than just flying by. In many ways, it feels like it is ceasing to exist altogether. That's an interesting topic for another day.
For now, I've got a list of other actions to take, like finally signing up for the storage unit that I have felt led to get and start shifting items to for months now. When I was visiting with my spirit family in Asheville, NC, after the road trip late last year, the directive for what to do upon arriving home was clear: start releasing things and packing up my apartment.
Needless to say, I got back and pretty much settled into my old, tired daily routine. And I bet you can guess what that means.
Yep. Not much of anything happened.
There has been a constant niggling to get busy, though, which has now grown to a fevered pitch. I don't know what the steps will be after that, specifically, but I'm sure they have something to do with picking up and going somewhere. All I know is that it feels like I will need to be ready to go at a moment's notice. And if I'm not prepared to do so, either that blessing won't come to be in the time frame that is being set up now or it will be extremely stressful to get done in rapid order what could have been achieved less stressfully over time.
In recent years, my choices have been all about moving away from stress and toward ease, grace, peace and joy. So I'm opting for action.
And I'll be getting that storage unit on Monday.
I feel as if I blinked and nearly two months went by.
That's not unusual lately. Time is more than just flying by. In many ways, it feels like it is ceasing to exist altogether. That's an interesting topic for another day.
For now, I've got a list of other actions to take, like finally signing up for the storage unit that I have felt led to get and start shifting items to for months now. When I was visiting with my spirit family in Asheville, NC, after the road trip late last year, the directive for what to do upon arriving home was clear: start releasing things and packing up my apartment.
Needless to say, I got back and pretty much settled into my old, tired daily routine. And I bet you can guess what that means.
Yep. Not much of anything happened.
There has been a constant niggling to get busy, though, which has now grown to a fevered pitch. I don't know what the steps will be after that, specifically, but I'm sure they have something to do with picking up and going somewhere. All I know is that it feels like I will need to be ready to go at a moment's notice. And if I'm not prepared to do so, either that blessing won't come to be in the time frame that is being set up now or it will be extremely stressful to get done in rapid order what could have been achieved less stressfully over time.
In recent years, my choices have been all about moving away from stress and toward ease, grace, peace and joy. So I'm opting for action.
And I'll be getting that storage unit on Monday.
Blogging From A to Z Challenge
I'm doing it. And I'm not.
Let me explain.
Yesterday I read a blog that introduced me to the Blogging From A to Z Challenge
(www.a-to-zchallenge.com). In short: Participants write a blog post each day during the month of April -- except Sundays -- and the title of the post needs to start with the relevant letter of the alphabet for that day. So, all told, 26 posts would be added to the blog for the month.
Unfortunately, I heard about the challenge after the entry period, so I am not able to participate in an official capacity. But like someone who audits a class and does all the work for it even though a grade will not be received, I am going to fulfill the spirit of the challenge and do what it takes to meet the requirements. So, I'll begin today and not rest on Sundays given that I'm getting a late start.
Better late than never. And anticipating a post a day for the rest of the month should make at least one friend who reads this blog and provides consistent encouragement very happy. You know who you are. :)
Off we go.
Let me explain.
Yesterday I read a blog that introduced me to the Blogging From A to Z Challenge
(www.a-to-zchallenge.com). In short: Participants write a blog post each day during the month of April -- except Sundays -- and the title of the post needs to start with the relevant letter of the alphabet for that day. So, all told, 26 posts would be added to the blog for the month.
Unfortunately, I heard about the challenge after the entry period, so I am not able to participate in an official capacity. But like someone who audits a class and does all the work for it even though a grade will not be received, I am going to fulfill the spirit of the challenge and do what it takes to meet the requirements. So, I'll begin today and not rest on Sundays given that I'm getting a late start.
Better late than never. And anticipating a post a day for the rest of the month should make at least one friend who reads this blog and provides consistent encouragement very happy. You know who you are. :)
Off we go.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Blizzard
We've had a good bit of snow up heya in Maine, to say the least. Like 30 inches or so. Nemo has packed the bulk of his punch at this point, and thankfully the power, phone lines and internet have all remained up and running. I know that hasn't been the case for many folks. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this storm.
The last time a blizzard invited me to participate in person was 35 years ago. I was in Rhode Island and getting ready to turn 7 years old. Did I just reveal my age? Ah well. I remember standing inside my neighbor and best friend's house, looking out the storm door at all the snow and wondering when my dad would get home. I forget now exactly how he made it home, but he did, safe and sound. And, if memory serves correctly, I think my friend's father was one of the folks whose car got stranded along I-95, and he actually walked home from there.
That was a lengthy and likely dangerous proposition.
Fast forward to today, and this is what greeted me when I opened the door this morning.
With the deck done, I pondered next steps. This is what lies in wait.
My landlords shovel a path around to the back of the house so the oil company can get through and fill us up if need be. Usually I continue with the clearing and open up the rest of the walkway. Today, however, I think good enough is good enough and I'll leave just that small path through the snow. I'll focus my efforts on digging out the car.
But first, warmth, lunch and possibly a nap are in order.
After all, moderation is wise, is it not?
The last time a blizzard invited me to participate in person was 35 years ago. I was in Rhode Island and getting ready to turn 7 years old. Did I just reveal my age? Ah well. I remember standing inside my neighbor and best friend's house, looking out the storm door at all the snow and wondering when my dad would get home. I forget now exactly how he made it home, but he did, safe and sound. And, if memory serves correctly, I think my friend's father was one of the folks whose car got stranded along I-95, and he actually walked home from there.
That was a lengthy and likely dangerous proposition.
Fast forward to today, and this is what greeted me when I opened the door this morning.
Just a rather small, manageable wall of snow
There actually are steps under there
Steps begin to emerge
Making progress
Success!
With the deck done, I pondered next steps. This is what lies in wait.
See the particularly big lump at the
bottom of the stairs?
My landlords shovel a path around to the back of the house so the oil company can get through and fill us up if need be. Usually I continue with the clearing and open up the rest of the walkway. Today, however, I think good enough is good enough and I'll leave just that small path through the snow. I'll focus my efforts on digging out the car.
But first, warmth, lunch and possibly a nap are in order.
After all, moderation is wise, is it not?
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