First chapter completed. Whew!
It's tempting to rest on one's laurels for a day or two. Except that, really, the only solid days I have to write are the weekends. So I have to start on another chapter tonight. I have outlines for them all, so it's just a matter of picking one. The question is whether I want to complete the trifecta of stories that go with the first chapter, or go down a completely different path. I think I'm going to stay with the same topic for the next chapter. After all, the information from the first chapter is fresh in my mind. And I will really feel as though I have accomplished something when I finish the first trifecta!
On to the next goal. Next chapter here I come.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Today's Mission
I am inches away. So close I can smell it. The light at the end of the tunnel.
Chapter one of my book is almost complete. Of course, it's been almost complete for a couple of weeks now. I made the mistake - or the positive move - of rereading the whole thing before starting on the end. As a result, what should have been a few hours to wrap it up ended up being several hours of tweaking and editing. The end result is better, of course, but the line still hasn't been crossed.
Motivation is there. Will today be the day? Finally? I sure hope so. I have others to write and places to go.
Chapter one of my book is almost complete. Of course, it's been almost complete for a couple of weeks now. I made the mistake - or the positive move - of rereading the whole thing before starting on the end. As a result, what should have been a few hours to wrap it up ended up being several hours of tweaking and editing. The end result is better, of course, but the line still hasn't been crossed.
Motivation is there. Will today be the day? Finally? I sure hope so. I have others to write and places to go.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Losing Track Of Pop Culture
I may be 48, but I try to keep up with what the younger generation watches and listens to. For many years, I have prided myself on being the only kid in my family who knows the names of top pop singers and current TV shows.
I'm pretty good. I even own music by some of the hottest acts in the country. I have P!nk's last CD - which I love. I have Train's last CD - which is okay. I like Taylor Swift's music, but haven't bought any yet. I know who Lady Gaga, Ke$sha, Usher, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, and Katy Perry are. I don't like any of them, but I know some of their music. Sort of. But Cee Lo Green? I only know his name because of Glee. Nick Minaj? I know her because she wore all leopard-spotted clothes to the Grammys. Taio Cruz? No idea. Keri Hilson? Pitbull? What?
I have some of the same problems with TV. I do watch Glee, though I was a late-comer. I've never watched The Office, 30 Rock, and a bunch of the ABC sitcoms, but I know the basics, including most of the stars. I think the Jersey Shore is disgusting, but I know something about the show and the "stars". But I don't watch Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries, or any of the other CW shows; True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, or any of the other HBO shows; or Burn Notice, White Collar, Royal Pains, or any of the other USA Network shows.
As a result, there are paparazzi pictures, stories on entertainment shows, and other media news that mention things that happened in pop culture or "famous" people and I have no idea who they are.
I'm pretty good. I even own music by some of the hottest acts in the country. I have P!nk's last CD - which I love. I have Train's last CD - which is okay. I like Taylor Swift's music, but haven't bought any yet. I know who Lady Gaga, Ke$sha, Usher, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, and Katy Perry are. I don't like any of them, but I know some of their music. Sort of. But Cee Lo Green? I only know his name because of Glee. Nick Minaj? I know her because she wore all leopard-spotted clothes to the Grammys. Taio Cruz? No idea. Keri Hilson? Pitbull? What?
I have some of the same problems with TV. I do watch Glee, though I was a late-comer. I've never watched The Office, 30 Rock, and a bunch of the ABC sitcoms, but I know the basics, including most of the stars. I think the Jersey Shore is disgusting, but I know something about the show and the "stars". But I don't watch Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries, or any of the other CW shows; True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, or any of the other HBO shows; or Burn Notice, White Collar, Royal Pains, or any of the other USA Network shows.
As a result, there are paparazzi pictures, stories on entertainment shows, and other media news that mention things that happened in pop culture or "famous" people and I have no idea who they are.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Flexibility Goals
I've been getting into yoga lately. This is in part because my joints are getting older and running is hard on them. And it's in part because running and other cardio exercise does little for flexibility. In fact, I found that just doing cardio exercises actually made my joints, tendons, and ligaments tighter. Which can make them more vulnerable to problems. When I was doing karate, I had developed quite a bit of flexibility. But in the years since I stopped, that flexibility has almost disappeared.
So yoga. Like most forms of exercise, however, you get as much out of yoga as you put into it. The more often you do it, the better you do. This is particularly true for the flexibility aspects. I find that if I do yoga a couple of days in a row, I am much more flexible on day 2 and 3. Likewise, if I don't do any for several days in a row, the next time is almost like starting at the beginning in terms of flexibility.
Because there are no belts to achieve and because I do better with goals, here are my flexibility goals:
1) Be able to get my head to my knee in one-legged stretches. I'm almost there. My head is probably an inch or so above my knee if I do yoga a couple of days in a row.
2) Be able to get my head to my knee in seated forward bend. Again, I am close so this is pretty attainable.
3) Be able to put my palms on the ground and fully stretch in standing forward bend. Right now, I can usually get my fingers on the ground in the second or third round of this stretch. But full palms will take a while.
4) Be able to get my chest to the ground in wide angle seated fold. Right now, I can get my arms up to my elbows on the ground with my legs wide open. I'd like to get my chest to the ground. This is a pretty audacious goal. We will have to see.
5) Be able to open my legs wider than 90 degrees in wide angle seated fold. When I was doing karate, I got to about 135 degrees. I can't imagine getting to a full 180. The instructor on my yoga DVDs does, but he was a dancer before he took up yoga. That might be cheating.
6) Be able to get my feet flat on the ground in downward dog. My heels are still a couple of inches off the floor. This too will take lots of stretching and diligence.
Some poses are beyond me and I don't really desire to get there. Plow pose, for example, where you fold your outstretched legs over your head and touch your feet on the ground behind your head. No desire to be able to do that. It's just really uncomfortable. Likewise, I have no desire to do upward bow. In this pose, you balance on your hands and feet and push your body up in the air. So the only parts of you touching the floor and your hands and feet. I simply don't have the arm strength for this pose, and I can't imagine getting there.
As with karate, I am finding with yoga that I have challenges with my balance. I'm fine with warrior 1 and 2. But warrior 3 is a challenge. I can do it most of the time, but sometimes my balance just isn't there. Same problem with star pose. Triangle is no problem. But moving forward to rest on one hand and one foot with the opposite leg outstretched behind and the opposite arm straight up is something I have definite problems with.
For now, I'm sticking with flexibility goals. I'll save balance goals for another time.
So yoga. Like most forms of exercise, however, you get as much out of yoga as you put into it. The more often you do it, the better you do. This is particularly true for the flexibility aspects. I find that if I do yoga a couple of days in a row, I am much more flexible on day 2 and 3. Likewise, if I don't do any for several days in a row, the next time is almost like starting at the beginning in terms of flexibility.
Because there are no belts to achieve and because I do better with goals, here are my flexibility goals:
1) Be able to get my head to my knee in one-legged stretches. I'm almost there. My head is probably an inch or so above my knee if I do yoga a couple of days in a row.
2) Be able to get my head to my knee in seated forward bend. Again, I am close so this is pretty attainable.
3) Be able to put my palms on the ground and fully stretch in standing forward bend. Right now, I can usually get my fingers on the ground in the second or third round of this stretch. But full palms will take a while.
4) Be able to get my chest to the ground in wide angle seated fold. Right now, I can get my arms up to my elbows on the ground with my legs wide open. I'd like to get my chest to the ground. This is a pretty audacious goal. We will have to see.
5) Be able to open my legs wider than 90 degrees in wide angle seated fold. When I was doing karate, I got to about 135 degrees. I can't imagine getting to a full 180. The instructor on my yoga DVDs does, but he was a dancer before he took up yoga. That might be cheating.
6) Be able to get my feet flat on the ground in downward dog. My heels are still a couple of inches off the floor. This too will take lots of stretching and diligence.
Some poses are beyond me and I don't really desire to get there. Plow pose, for example, where you fold your outstretched legs over your head and touch your feet on the ground behind your head. No desire to be able to do that. It's just really uncomfortable. Likewise, I have no desire to do upward bow. In this pose, you balance on your hands and feet and push your body up in the air. So the only parts of you touching the floor and your hands and feet. I simply don't have the arm strength for this pose, and I can't imagine getting there.
As with karate, I am finding with yoga that I have challenges with my balance. I'm fine with warrior 1 and 2. But warrior 3 is a challenge. I can do it most of the time, but sometimes my balance just isn't there. Same problem with star pose. Triangle is no problem. But moving forward to rest on one hand and one foot with the opposite leg outstretched behind and the opposite arm straight up is something I have definite problems with.
For now, I'm sticking with flexibility goals. I'll save balance goals for another time.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
What's In A Name?
When I was a little kid, my family called me "Barby". With a "y", not an "ie" like the doll. The Christmas stocking my mother made for me when I was a small child still has that name on it. When I got to an age to make my opinion known, I killed the nickname. I didn't want to be associated with the Barbie doll. In fact, I refused to have one of those dolls. I wasn't really a doll person to start with. But being associated with that particular doll just didn't work for me.
I went from "Barby" to "Barb". Throughout junior high school and senior high school, I went by that name. It worked for my teenage self.
When I went to college, I became "Barbara". Since then, I have always introduced myself to new people as "Barbara". But there are still people who call me "Barb" - my family and people who know me from junior high school. Or people who met me through people who knew me from junior high school. But it's rare.
So when people call me "Barb" when they didn't know me way back when or are not my friend, it irks me. Somehow it's assuming an intimacy that isn't appropriate.
Maybe that's going too far? Maybe I shouldn't be so sensitive?
Except that I know other people who go by their full name and would be really ticked off if someone shortened it without permission. So perhaps I'm not the only one.
I went from "Barby" to "Barb". Throughout junior high school and senior high school, I went by that name. It worked for my teenage self.
When I went to college, I became "Barbara". Since then, I have always introduced myself to new people as "Barbara". But there are still people who call me "Barb" - my family and people who know me from junior high school. Or people who met me through people who knew me from junior high school. But it's rare.
So when people call me "Barb" when they didn't know me way back when or are not my friend, it irks me. Somehow it's assuming an intimacy that isn't appropriate.
Maybe that's going too far? Maybe I shouldn't be so sensitive?
Except that I know other people who go by their full name and would be really ticked off if someone shortened it without permission. So perhaps I'm not the only one.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Tipping Point
It's chicken vs. egg time. Last night, at 3:15 am so perhaps more accurately very early this morning, I woke up. From 3:15 to 4:17, I tossed and turned, writing my book in my brain. At 4:17, I gave it up, came downstairs to get my laptop, and spent the next 1-1/2 hours writing. At 6:05 am, I came downstairs again to feed the cats. Then I turned off the computer, turned off the lights, and tried to sleep again. But I was still thinking about the book. Still remembering things I wanted to include, plot points to add, ideas to be sure to incorporate.
Why I woke up at 3:15 am is a mystery. I was having trouble sleeping all night, not made any better by a cat sleeping stretched to her limit in the absolute center of the bed. I could have moved her, but instead I tried to sleep around her. And was uncomfortable. But that was probably chicken vs. egg too. If I was tired enough, I would have been able to sleep anyway.
But the book is starting to get to a tipping point. The first story is almost finished. The real story of one of the guys. Once I've finished that story, I will truly feel like I'm on the road to writing a book.
I keep thinking I'm almost there. And then at 3:15 am, my brain starts of thinking about other things I want to add. Last night is the first time I've actually gotten up and written. However, I have a feeling it won't be the last.
Tipping point - obsession or goal. Maybe the better question is whether there's a difference?
Why I woke up at 3:15 am is a mystery. I was having trouble sleeping all night, not made any better by a cat sleeping stretched to her limit in the absolute center of the bed. I could have moved her, but instead I tried to sleep around her. And was uncomfortable. But that was probably chicken vs. egg too. If I was tired enough, I would have been able to sleep anyway.
But the book is starting to get to a tipping point. The first story is almost finished. The real story of one of the guys. Once I've finished that story, I will truly feel like I'm on the road to writing a book.
I keep thinking I'm almost there. And then at 3:15 am, my brain starts of thinking about other things I want to add. Last night is the first time I've actually gotten up and written. However, I have a feeling it won't be the last.
Tipping point - obsession or goal. Maybe the better question is whether there's a difference?
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Event Planning
I admire people who plan major events, like weddings and conferences, because every time I have to do this kind of planning, I'm reminded what a hassle it is. Perhaps hasssle isn't the right word, but certainly the logistics can be a huge challenge. And this is from someone who handles logistics for a living!
Event planning is on my mind for two reasons. First, next weekend is the biggest health IT conference of the year, HIMSS. All the big companies and many of the small ones in our industry will have a booth at the convention center. The conference is so large that there are only a handful of cities that can house it. In 2010, HIMSS was in Atlanta. The year before that, it was in Orlando. This year, it's back in Orlando. It's outgrown smaller convention cities like New Orleans, where it was held in 2007. This time last year, I was already in Atlanta. Since I was then working for a small company, I was responsible for all the logistics for our booth, from getting it designed in the first place to being there for its setup. I also had to set up a booth schedule to ensure there was someone to talk about our capabilities at all times. And of course, marketing materials to hand out as needed. There was a great deal of stress involved as well, with so much of the planning and therefore success of spending all that money resting on my shoulders. All in all, I spent two weeks in Atlanta. I got to know the town better than I ever have, but I was compeltely exhausted by the end of it. In 2009, I helped plan and execute the booth for a large company. Also exhausting, but I didn't have to do all the pre- and post-conference support. And I was in more of a support role for all the other elements. Not all the responsibility rested with me. This year, now back at a large company, I'm not even involved in the planning nor will I be attending. It's weird, but I miss the opportunity to participate. Maybe next year?
The second event being planned is resting more on my shoulders. We are trying to get a family reunion together for this summer. My mother is turning 80 this year, and she requested a family reunion for her celebration. Her birthday is in May though, which makes getting the family together for her actual birthday challenging, as some of the extended family has kids in school. So we're planning for a 4th of July reunion. Picking a location was a bit of a challenge as well. Mom had suggested Colorado as possibility, but also Italy. In the end, we ended up in Texas as my remaining uncle is not in the best of health and lives there. We decided on Austin as it's one of the destination cities in Texas, with a great music scene and Lake Travis for water and golfing excursions. Check. Next, I sent a note to all the relatives on my mom's side of the family to see who could come. I heard from almost everyone, so now I had a list of who would be coming, who would potentially be coming, and who couldn't make it. Check. Then we needed to identify a house or two to rent in Austin. This proved quite challenging, given that we needed about 7-8 bedrooms all totalled. The committee for this was me, my sister, and one of my cousins. After several weeks of debating between this house and that house, locations around Austin, and configurations of the family, we have finally pinned down a particular location and are making reservations. Check. Next, we need to make reservations for dinner for a birthday celebration. We've identified that restaurant, so that should be easy. Check. Now I'm working on locations to hear some good music, my cousin is scoping out possible excursions, and my sister will look into the architecture of Austin for our father to explore. Eventually, we'll have to deal with the financials for renting the houses. And then renting cars, making plane reservations, and other details associated with getting everyone to town. Not to mention groceries and other logistics. As many things as we have already planned, there's more to come.
Maybe if you do this for a living, you develop a checklist or two. And you know the timelines for what needs to happen when. Maybe that makes it easier. Maybe.
Event planning is on my mind for two reasons. First, next weekend is the biggest health IT conference of the year, HIMSS. All the big companies and many of the small ones in our industry will have a booth at the convention center. The conference is so large that there are only a handful of cities that can house it. In 2010, HIMSS was in Atlanta. The year before that, it was in Orlando. This year, it's back in Orlando. It's outgrown smaller convention cities like New Orleans, where it was held in 2007. This time last year, I was already in Atlanta. Since I was then working for a small company, I was responsible for all the logistics for our booth, from getting it designed in the first place to being there for its setup. I also had to set up a booth schedule to ensure there was someone to talk about our capabilities at all times. And of course, marketing materials to hand out as needed. There was a great deal of stress involved as well, with so much of the planning and therefore success of spending all that money resting on my shoulders. All in all, I spent two weeks in Atlanta. I got to know the town better than I ever have, but I was compeltely exhausted by the end of it. In 2009, I helped plan and execute the booth for a large company. Also exhausting, but I didn't have to do all the pre- and post-conference support. And I was in more of a support role for all the other elements. Not all the responsibility rested with me. This year, now back at a large company, I'm not even involved in the planning nor will I be attending. It's weird, but I miss the opportunity to participate. Maybe next year?
The second event being planned is resting more on my shoulders. We are trying to get a family reunion together for this summer. My mother is turning 80 this year, and she requested a family reunion for her celebration. Her birthday is in May though, which makes getting the family together for her actual birthday challenging, as some of the extended family has kids in school. So we're planning for a 4th of July reunion. Picking a location was a bit of a challenge as well. Mom had suggested Colorado as possibility, but also Italy. In the end, we ended up in Texas as my remaining uncle is not in the best of health and lives there. We decided on Austin as it's one of the destination cities in Texas, with a great music scene and Lake Travis for water and golfing excursions. Check. Next, I sent a note to all the relatives on my mom's side of the family to see who could come. I heard from almost everyone, so now I had a list of who would be coming, who would potentially be coming, and who couldn't make it. Check. Then we needed to identify a house or two to rent in Austin. This proved quite challenging, given that we needed about 7-8 bedrooms all totalled. The committee for this was me, my sister, and one of my cousins. After several weeks of debating between this house and that house, locations around Austin, and configurations of the family, we have finally pinned down a particular location and are making reservations. Check. Next, we need to make reservations for dinner for a birthday celebration. We've identified that restaurant, so that should be easy. Check. Now I'm working on locations to hear some good music, my cousin is scoping out possible excursions, and my sister will look into the architecture of Austin for our father to explore. Eventually, we'll have to deal with the financials for renting the houses. And then renting cars, making plane reservations, and other details associated with getting everyone to town. Not to mention groceries and other logistics. As many things as we have already planned, there's more to come.
Maybe if you do this for a living, you develop a checklist or two. And you know the timelines for what needs to happen when. Maybe that makes it easier. Maybe.
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