A Clear Mind

Like many people I do not particularly enjoy the chore of cleaning. Yet piles of clothes and dishes are nagging reminders of what needs to be done. That is why Mondays are cleaning day.

I love crossing off my accomplishments. Organization makes me feel clear-headed, and the satisfaction of a clean home fuels my creativity.

And now I can take on the world.

Embrace Limits

Our limits have creative consequences. 

In his blog post, The Puzzle Joint, Seth Godin notes, "If you have a limit, perhaps it's worth embracing."

As they say necessity is the mother of invention. When we embrace our limitations, we give ourselves the opportunity to make do with what we have on hand.

Water Your Own Grass

Water Your Own Grass pinned in La Vie Boheme; via Crush Cul de Sac

Of the Sea

Although I did not participate in NaNoWrMo this year I have been working on a novel. One of the central characters in my novel is also the setting: the sea. The vastness of the sea is daunting, and I have stalled because I want the mood of my novel to be right.

In his Introduction to Classic Sea Stories, Barry Unsworth's description of the sea acknowledges the otherness of nature. He states

"The sea is another world, uncontrollable, unpredictable, violent in her rages, beguiling in her calms, but always alien. Moreover, she is vast, beyond our scale in her volume and extent and limitless to our imagination."

It is the imagination of the sea I want to tap into; the juxtaposition of calm and power. The sea is familiar and foreign, comforting and frightening.

I need to dive into the sea and let my pen describe what I find.

A Thankful Thanksgiving

1. Family. With a retail schedule, I truly appreciate the time I get to spend with them.
2. Food on the table. If you go to bed hungry in my house, you have chosen to not eat. Not everyone can say that.
3. Matt and I married two months ago today! If all goes well, we will be moving into our first house in the beginning of the new year.

It has been a year of positive changes. With so many without, I am thankful for the blessings God has given me.

Walk Together

"Two cannot walk together as one if they do not have mutual interests, the same outlook on life, the same spiritual views, the same desires, etc. How important it is that a man and woman who plan to marry agree."

Cathy Rice, The Right Way in Marriage for Women 

Unfinished Weave

We all have half-finished projects laying around. Works in progress, as the craft community calls them, can speak to where we are in our lives. Some projects are never finished; they are too complicated, so they packed away and forgotten. Others are waiting for the right moment, the right detail, to be finished. 


You may remember I found the loom at Eaton Community Hospice Thrift Shop. I bought a large bag of loops at Hobby Lobby. I wanted a small project to work on in between larger ones. 

This woven project has been on my loom for over a month, but every spare moment has been devoted to our wedding. I am not sure if it will become a coaster or potholder or trivet, but I know that this project is waiting for the right moment to be finished.

Think About Such Things

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) via BibleGateway.com

A Quality Life

Less is more. The more we have the less satisfied we become with life. We become obsessed with obtaining things we do not need. And then we fill our emptiness with more things.

Our possessions remain behind after we pass; we should focus on the quality of life we lead not the quantity of objects we own. 

An uncluttered life brings helps us see the blessings around us.

I want to simplify my life.

Philosophy of Priorities

I need to follow this simple philosophy:

Priorities pinned in La Vie Boheme

*If you know the image's source, let me know so I can cite it!*

Auld Lang Syne

As you may recall, I am not much for new year's resolutions. Four year later, the everyday resolutions of awareness, openness, healthy living, organization and creativity still mean a lot to me. I want to be challenged every day to make a positive change. Like most people, I get bogged down by the mundane.

I appreciate the symbolism, the hope of better times, of a new year.  In no particular order, the past year and a few possibilities for 2011.

A look back:
I was sick with sinus/allergies/colds for over two months.
Applied to many jobs. Had a few interviews.
Visited Rochester for the first time since I moved home.
I saw the fireworks over Lansing from the top of a secluded hill.
Had a great time with friends.
Had a perfect day at the beach with Matt.
Started blogging, again.
Made sun tea.
Picked wild raspberries.
Visited family in Ludington.
Listened to some good tunes.
Witnessed two sets of friends marry.
I got a haircut.
Started a garden (late).
Dimondale Holiday Craft Show.
Applied to graduate schools.
Started dealing with health, depression.
I read 34 new books (plus reread several others).

A look forward:
Search for a new job.
Build a website.
Freelance.
Graduate school (I hope!).
Picnic with my thrifted picnic basket.
Beach.
Eat local.
Go to concerts.
Family and friends.
Thrift.
Garden.
Blog, write. Finish my novella.
Submit short stories. Get published.
Craft.
Turning thirty (August 28th).
Old Town Underground Artist Market.
Take pictures.
Get fit.
Travel.
Watercolours.
My youngest sister is getting married; I'm a bridesmaid.
Live my life with wonder.

Happy New Year!

In the Lane of Fire

Have you ever watched people’s behavior in public places? It often defies all logic and reason, leaving one to wonder, “what were they thinking?” Truth is, people often see themselves as "special cases." If they thought about it, they'd see if everyone followed their reasoning, no one would ever receive their "proper" treatment.

Take fire lanes as an example. My employer has a fire lane specified by a bright, yellow line painted on the blacktop. While technically no vehicle should be parked in the lines at any time, people often pull up their car for loading. Loading in the fire lane is fine, I suppose; customers often confuse which door is the entrance and which is the exit of our building. But I cannot believe how many people park in the fire lane.

I’ve actually gone up to people parked in front of the door and told them they can’t park there. I usually get the response “I’m waiting for someone,” to which I patiently explain the concept of a fire lane. Personally, if there’s an urgent situation, I want emergency workers to have access to the building—mostly for my safety, as I care more for that than the building’s integrity. Unfortunately, those who decided to park in front of the door because “they are just going in for one item” care little for either.

To me, if you’re waiting for someone, you have two options: either you go in with them or you park the car (in a parking spot) and wait until they come back out to pick them up. If you’re shopping, you park--no exceptions. Either way, I don't care if you're the CEO of some mega-important company, when it comes to safety, you don’t get special privileges.

Distracted at Panera Bread

A week ago, my roommate and I went to Panera Bread to work on our future business. After ordering a House Latte and settling in with our laptops, we discussed our plans and goals. We decided to work on different segments of our upcoming website and fell into a comfortable, productive silence. Even though others sat chatting at tables around us, we were not bothered. The low, soothing sound was broken by a xylophone.

Yes, a xylophone. In the middle of Panera Bread, a woman sat with two teenagers and a toddler. The little girl happily banged away, creating a tense undercurrent in the coffee shop.

Her mother didn't notice. People paused to stare, but no one said anything to the mother. Not a word. We tried to get back to work, but we finally had it. We left the child still creating cacophony.

Dear Parents,
I don't mind children in public places. In fact, it's great you're exposing them to social situations at a young age; I'm sure they'll grow into wonderful, well-adjusted adult such as yourself. Please, and this is merely a suggestion, entertain them in a way least distracting to others. My suggestion is crayons and paper. Perhaps a favorite doll or toy truck. But please, dearest Parents, do not bring toys that bang, pop, whistle, or generally make noise. I'm glad your child has an interest in music, and indeed, you should encourage him or her. But bringing your child to a public place gives you an opportunity to expose them to something else--respecting others thoughts, ideas, emotions and above all eardrums. This is a valuable lesson. Thank you for your consideration, for all our sakes.

Sincerly,
Distracted at Panera Bread

Evangelical Atheism

As more people access social bookmarking websites (such as Digg.com), a new form of evangelicalism flourishes. Clutching pictures of the stars--proof our vast universe is far too complex to be designed by any being, sentient or otherwise--Evangelical Atheists demand the realization philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is right, "God is dead". Atheism 2.0--named after Web 2.0, the next generation of web design--seeks to confront the existence of religion head on.

In recent years, Christianity has been branded offensive because its followers are perceived as judgemental, irrational, closed-minded, and forcefully evangelical bullies. I argue Atheists associated with Atheism 2.0 may be similar to the Christian groups they despise.

Atheism claims no dogma, for this is a religious designation. Atheism is a philosophical and personal choice which denounces the existence of any and all deities. The New Atheists press the "good news" upon everyone with a web browser.

Evangelical Atheism seeks to "save" believers from their spirituality, with "brutal" force if necessary. At Digg.com, users have an option to "digg down" a comment; a tactic sometimes bullyingly used to discredit Christian and religious comments--even if the comment is relevant to the topic. Brilliant, spiritual intellectuals are commonly and stereotypically ridiculed as babbling mystics in 2.0 circles.

In 1843, Karl Marx wrote "Religion is the opium of the people"; and indeed, evangelicals in the 2.0 movement want to eradicate the drug. With the resources of Internet in hand, the debate has a new edge. Who's the bully now?

Reference: Wikipedia

On Taxes

In light of the tax season upon us, I give you my response to last year's attempts to figure my own:

Every year at about this time I stare blankly at the meaningless numbers. Taxes. The W-2's report an amount far exceeding what I have in actuality. A fair portion of that number, the government laid claim to before I ever saw it. Now, it's time to see if they will pity me and return some of my hard earned dollars, or if I must begrudgingly send out money I desperately need to survive.

The process to figure out taxes, my father assures me, is easy. But as I try to decipher the manual to my 1040EZ, I realize the booklet is written in an obscure and elite form of English known as Bureaucratese (which, I discover, is a proper word). It may have well be in Old English or Latin, for all I can understand. I would even take King James English; at least I have read enough Shakespeare to appreciate the ornate, archaic language.

The worksheet instructs me to add numbers according to my marital and dependency status. I do so, and try to figure out why it matters. I panic and call my father. He explains I need not look for meaning in the numbers (and tells me I am over-schooled). If only my schooling helped. He goes on to tell me these numbers are to force citizens to use a third party for their taxes. With this reassurance, I hang up and turn once more to the threatening numbers.

I start adding necessary, and unnecessary, numbers in my head, on my fingers, on my calculator. The figure before me tells me I owe the government a good deal more money than what rests in my bank account. I do math two more times, and then a third to make certain. Wild-eyed and frantic, I call my father again.

Dad, of course, knows I don't owe the government anything. "You're going to get most of it back," he says patiently. "You're just doing it wrong."

After discussion and negotiation, my dad agrees to once again "do my taxes this year," but next year, "I have to figure it out on my own". I agree, relieved I have another year before I must deal with the meaningless numbers the government is so concerned about.

Roller Shoes

Kids glide down store aisles, weaving between shoppers before circling back to their inattentive parents. Roller shoes, shoes with retractable wheels, are an accident waiting to happen. And when that accident occurs, the parents will start pointing fingers. At the store, for having unsafe conditions. At the shoe company, for having faulty shoes. The parents will point their fingers at everyone but the culprits--themselves.

Due to Michigan's lagging economy, I work retail. At my job, we are instructed to tell kids to walk if we see them using roller shoes. Instead, my co-workers and I avert our eyes to avoid their parent's wrath.

Roller skating isn't allowed in stores; why should roller shoes?

A family in New Jersey is suing Heelys, a roller shoe company, because their son slipped while rolling across the street--an action the company advises against. So who's to blame for the boy's behavior?

With the current "how you raise your children is none of my business" attitude, it's society that suffers. Although some parents avoid rules in their children's upbringing to appear "cool", some rules are in place for a reason.

Accidents happen. Instead of pointing fingers, parents need to lay the foundation for safe roller shoe use.

Public Cell Phone Use

Cell phones are everywhere. At the mall, in line, or even while driving, cell phone users hunch over their phone, blocking outside noise with a finger. Their every word is unavoidably loud. You have to listen to them complain about their unruly hair and failed relationships. It's enough to make you want to grab their phone and flush it down the nearest toilet.

Talking on the phone in public places is rude and distracting. Checking out takes twice as long when you're digging through your purse or wallet and telling your mom about the kids. C'mon, no one wants to hear your business.

Talking on the phone while driving is another topic, reserved for another time. This article focuses on appropriate cell phone use in public places.

Talking While Shopping
Try to avoid it. If you have to answer a call, keep it as short as possible. If you need to know if the other person needs you to pick up something, ask, but hang up after finding out what they need.

If you started the conversation before getting into line, politely tell the person to give you a moment while you pay. Or, tell them you'll call them back. Don't tell the person you're at the store and keep talking. The cashier is a living person standing in front of you. They cannot do their job properly if you're chatting with someone who's on the other side of the state.

Apologizing to the cashier and/or others waiting in line doesn't make it okay.

Don't Do Business in Line
If you're a businessperson, this is especially true for you. Having a client on the phone while shopping and/or checking out is unprofessional. If the call is to set up an appointment, do so, but don't discuss confidential information in a public place. It's like walking out in your underwear and naively believing someone isn't going to take pictures.

But What if it's an Emergency?
The phone is bound to ring while you're waiting in line. If it's an emergency, excuse yourself. Find a secluded place to have the conversation. If the call is not an emergency, let the person know you'll call them back after you've finished paying.


Bottom line: Respect yourself, and respect others. Cell phones are here to stay; we simply need to hold each other accountable for acceptable public behavior.

Returning Merchandise to the Store

With six-and-a-half years of retail experience, I've pretty much seen it all. From irate customers to saints, I've dealt with every customer on the spectrum. Strangely enough, many consumers seem confused about returning unwanted merchandise. Here are a few pointers from the other side of the counter.

Be prepared to wait.
Chances are you're not the only one who decided to return their items right after work. If you want to avoid the rush, try going to the store in the morning or afternoon. Avoid returns on the weekend.

Have your receipt ready.
Knowing it's "somewhere in your wallet/pocket" is not good enough. Be organized so the people in line behind you don't have to wait. Some stores can do receipt look up by your debit/credit card or check. If you can't do either, graciously accept the store credit, even if you know you paid cash. It's your fault you lost the receipt.

Note: You may need your driver’s license to do a return. Take it out of your wallet. Typically, the cashier needs the numbers, and they're hard to read from a distance. Besides, do you really want to give someone access to your wallet?

Take your items out of the bag.
Okay, this is a personal preference. No one wants to touch the wet, dirty bag that sat in your back seat for three months. Ew.

Be aware of return policies.
Policy varies from store to store. Several stores have toughened their policy and don't allow returns without receipts. Each store lists its policy at the return desk, but you can often find it on your receipt or online. Use your common sense. Don't assume the store will return your item without doing research.


These tips are useful when the product is unopened, unwanted merchandise. In the case of broken or non-working products, manufacturer's warranty must be taken into account.

Every Day Resolutions 2007

I'm not one to make resolutions for New Year's. I don't need a special occasion to change my life. But in the spirit of the new year, here are a few of my every day resolutions.

Awareness:
I want to be aware of the news, to know what is happening in the world around me. I want to know the past, and see it's undercurrents in the present. Most of all, I want to be involved with the events that shape the future.

Openness:
The years teach us to close off from one another. I spent too many years inside. I want to share myself, and learn from others.

Healthy Living:
Healthy eating and exercise are not the only ways to be healthy. Healthy living is about balance, spirituality and more.

Organization:
Cleanliness effect my mood. Being organized helps me feel mentally active.

Creativity:
I look for creative outlets in the every day, whether it be writing, crafting, or thinking.

And Intolerance For All

According to BBC News, Nadia Eweida is on unpaid leave. Her employer, Heathrow Airport, will not let her wear a cross at the check-in counter. Ms. Eweida is fighting the company mandate. The most recent ruling was inconclusive, and the woman is unsure she'll get her job back.

I am unfamiliar with British religious laws, but I will try to look at this situation logically. Discrimination singles out a portion of the whole. Does an employer have the right to refuse one person's display of religious jewelry? Has Heathrow demanded other employees to take off their jewelry? Logically, if this woman cannot wear a cross necklace, then no employee should be allowed to wear jewelry, religious or otherwise. It is only fair.

Is Heathrow motivated by religious discrimination? Is the airport singling out Ms. Ewieda, Christianity or both. Or is the company attempting to be tolerant of all religions.

In society's attempts to be tolerant, religious intolerance spreads.

It's possible Heathrow Airport doesn't want to offend incoming passengers with other religious views. Or maybe the airport doesn't want to endorse a single religion? The company shouldn't worry; the cross is on Ms. Ewieda, not Heathrow Airport's counter.