Because it’s Friday AGAIN. And because traditions are important. In which I cover the good stuff and the hard stuff in my week, trying for the non-preachy, non-annoying side of self-reflection.
And you get to join in if you feel like it.
This was a ridiculously hard week. And I’m not even sure why. It just was.
All I know is I ran into a bunch of walls.
And it was not fun.
The hard stuff
Brain fog.
Things that would normally be slightly heavy were heavier.
Things that would normally be kind of fun, like choosing colors for painting Hoppy House were stressful and confusing.
Lots of Inowanna Iguana. Inowanna!
General crappiness.
Things being in between.
Things breaking and falling apart.
Things that didn’t need fixing now needing fixing.
Not being in the mood for any of it.
Systems fixes taking forever.
Man. Still dealing with fallout from all the time I spent last year not being on the bridge.
Making systems changes and then finding all sorts of ridiculousness in the systems. I have been putting this off for months because it bores the hell out of me.
But not as much as it stresses me out to have complicated systems.
Much of this week was spent editing stuff in the Pirate Ship Log to turn ten step processes into five step ones. Which might be why my brain is so miserable.
From this:
STEP 10:. To view the upcoming charges in shopping cart, click Orders –> Recurring Orders. That will bring up a list of scheduled charges & will show you the date the next charge will occur. If you want to change that date for any of those orders, click the “Edit” link in that order’s row. Then on the next screen, enter whatever date you want the charge ot occur in the “Date Next” box, and scroll to the bottom of the page and click “save changes.”
… to this:
STEP 5. To view upcoming charges + dates: Orders –> Recurring Orders. “Edit” to change dates. Next screen: enter new date, scroll to bottom + select “save changes.”
Yes. I know none of this makes sense to you. But for me, heaven.
Especially since these are just reminders to people who already use the systems and know how they work.
You know? I don’t even know why I’m chickening.
This week just kind of sucked. And I’m not sure why.
And now it’s over. Let’s find the good.
The good stuff
It’s Friday. Which means this ridiculous week is over.
It’s about damn time.
Changes.
While the spending of several hours making changes to systems and sequences was not pleasant for my head …
Having that done feels really, really good.
It’s as if there are parts of my ship that I avoid. Which is not good for a pirate queen.
So now I’m back on the bridge. And things are clean and clear.
My clients. I adore them.
We are both having fun and cooking up the most brilliant things together.
Very exciting.
And last Friday I had a client in town for a whole day with me (something I only do a few times a year) and it was extremely sparkly and great. We neutralized hundreds of monsters, came up with a spectacular and extremely unconventional business plan, and problem-solved like crazy.
I cannot put into words the amount of kooky impossible-to-explain magical untangling that happened. But I can say this: when amazing things are happening for people I care about, that really does change things for me as well.
The napping.
Very much the napping.
It was good.
And the tramping.
Now that it’s not a million degrees outside anymore, I am back on the tramp.
Bounce bounce bounce!
Speaking of iguanas…
I finally posted something on the Shiva Nata blog to answer the What’s a Shivanaut?
question.
And ended up letting myself fall down that rabbit hole for a while. Which was good.
Because I wrote six posts.
Including one which was just the most massive iguana ever, and had been weighing on me for months. Sigh of relief.
New things. Like The Slants! And some old things.
Obsessively listening to The Slants.
And by “listening”, I mean “doing Shiva Nata at top speed until my brain falls out”
And then I watched Mumford (which I hadn’t seen since it came out), and it was even more of a lovely film than I’d remembered.
What a sweet, perfect meditation on identity. And in so many forms. How we identify with roles, pain, place. How we hide from ourselves or aspects of ourselves. Imposter syndrome. Pleasure.
Recommended.
And … live from the meme beach house it’s the Fake Band of the Week!
Background: My brother and I have this thing where we come up with ridiculous band names and then say in this really pretentious, knowing tone, “Oh, well, you know, it’s just one guy.”
Portland had its big music festival last week (MFNW), and there were plenty of fabulously named bands — real ones. As well as all sorts of visitors to town (who are all these skinny people who look as if they care about their eyebrows?).
Anyway. I didn’t go, but I read the Willamette Week reviews and my god did they come up with some awesome categories to describe the types of music being played. Really, each one of those should be a band. My hat. It comes off.
So. I have to share some of these delightful names that should be bands. That are each just one guy. Obviously.
Cast your vote for the new Fake Band of The Week!
Fake Bands I’m pretty sure I would like: Rock and Lull, Chillwave, Mexican Ramones, Smartass Punk, Appalachian Hellfire, George Division
Fake Bands I am … intrigued by: Melody Freaks, Everything Is Ruined, Farmhouse Gospel, Glitch Hop
Fake Bands that kind of scare me. Or would, if they existed: Modest Mouseketeers, Brat Rock, Thrash Compactor, Meshugge Pop
And my personal favorite:
Minstrel of the Apocalypse
I would totally go to see them. Except that it’s really just one guy. Voting starts now.
And … stuff I read this week week.
This post about Shivapiphanies. Awesome. She’s @EleanorWragg on Twitter.
Go read this guy’s blog. It’s called Poor Impulse Control, it’s got a great tagline, and I’m afraid he’s going to stop. So leave him a comment and say hey. Thanks.
Also, I pretty much never read coaching blogs but one of my people sent me to this and so then I had to get a bunch of red sponge noses for the Playground.
I’m not crazy but I’ll be crazy for you. Hilarious. As if I weren’t a big enough Ryan North fan already. I love this way too much.
And my beloved Chris Zydel wrote about radical self acceptance and turnips.
That’s it for me …
And yes yes yes, of course you can join in my Friday ritual right here in the comments bit if you feel like it.
Yeah? Anything hard and/or good happen in your week?
And, as always, have a glorrrrrrrrrrrrious day and a restful weekend-ing.
And a happy week to come. Shabbat shalom. And of course also a tzom kal if you’re into that kind of thing. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIRO (tomorrow)! xox
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Love your comment about all the categories of music described at MNFW. I hear musicians described as belonging to all sorts of musical categories and when I listen to their music I can’t hear any differences that justify all the categories and sub-categories. Must be getting old!
.-= Keiran´s last post … Songwriters- we have the technology =-.
Ohmygosh, I’m up so late it’s Friday already!
Blog posts are falling out of me again too! It’s a nice change of pace. Mumford is lovely too… but what does it say that i read that and the first thing I thought of was the Muppet? Ha.
Modest Mouseketeers are total poseurs; I heard the show sucked. I would go see Meshugge Pop though. Especially if the guy has a ‘fro.
I read “crazy for you” and now I have Magnetic Fields’ “I’m Crazy For You But Not That Crazy” stuck in my head.
Iguanas were hard this week. Especially because they’re not hissy or aggressive, they just hang out. Insidious bastards.
But you know, when I lived in Miami we had a term called “iguana-dropping weather”. When the temperature drops below a certain point, the iguanas go into hibernation. But since they live in the trees there, if they hibernate on a branch they fall out. So if it gets cold in South Florida, don’t park your car under a tree because the falling iguanas might dent your car.
I’m not sure where I was going with that, but now I’m looking forward to the weather getting a little colder because then maybe some of my iguanas will go into hibernation.
Oh! Good stuff! We’re leaving on Secret Vacation tomorrow (today). El Pisces still has no clue where we’re going, which is incredibly fun. And the place is pretty amazing.
And tzom kal, dahlink. I’ll be on a plane at sunset which feels kind of funny, so I’m going to be diligent about that part in exchange. Silly, but hey.
xo
.-= Shannon´s last post … The Menorah in my Freezer =-.
P.S.:
A la peanut butter sandwiches!
Omg it’s Friday again and I have a project for school due tonight. All I really want to is sleep because I’m so exhausted from running on the hamster wheel.
The hard:
– never feeling like I’m catching up no matter how much I do
– having too many clothes in the closet that don’t fit. Somehow running on the hamster wheel doesn’t translate into weight management
– finding out that the ex-boss has managed to dodge responsibility for his actions due to a legal technicality
– coming face to face with the fact that people pick charisma over competence
the good
– solid performance review
– great meeting with my dissertation adviser
– spending some time with my spouse on his birthday
yay for the good, boo for the hard!
It’s Friday? Wow. No one told me. -sad face-
I’d so listen to Minstrel of the Apocalypse. Definitely.
The hard stuff
Moods.
Yesterday, for example, I stayed home and had time to myself and lit candles and listened to cool music and wrote. I love writing… And everything just felt heavy.
And my other half came online and I cried about how I didn’t know what I was crying for.
The whole week’s kind of been like that. Blerugh.
Kind of as you said “Things that would normally be slightly heavy were heavier..This week just kind of sucked. And I’m not sure why.”
Junk Food
leads to utter utter exhaustion.
Lack of Sleep
just couldn’t get comfy. My knees hurt and the bed-springs were pointy and GAH. hot and itchy and oh i don’t know. mind doing cartwheels at 4am.
So, moving swiftly on…
The good stuff
My Other Half
After 30 minutes of crying over who-knows-what on messenger, he just did everything possible to make me laugh and reassure me. Hurrah.
George Carlin
Something reminded me of this comedian (my favourite, but I’m more of a music person). And I’m now on hour 4 of listening to him. And he’s making me feel so good :]
Books!
Three books I’d ordered came and I’ve begun reading two of them. They’re awesome.
Writing
I’m at 79,000 words of my 90,000 word manuscript. And i’ve 6 days left to finish it. -sigh- Not too bad. Do-able.
Tea
Oh, Chai, nettle, fennel, peppermint and green; i’m in love.
Plans!
Monday and Tuesday are going to rock. The rest of the week will leave me bored and tired; but those two days I’ve plans to see friends and also have my own space. It’s going to be good.
Chicken!
So good to actually be able to say all this here, in a place of support; and find others having similar weeks.
Love to all commenter and lurking mice 🙂 and big hugs to others having heavy weeks.
.-= Rose´s last post … Quietude of Autumn & Space =-.
Happy Friday! I am pretty knackered today so I may fall asleep on the desk. Before I do though, here it is:
The hard
+ Overcome by the biohazard commonly called a cold. Properly. Had to go home from work and sit in my bed watching movies and sleeping. Which would be heaven if I hadn’t been full of cold.
+ Feeling as if a huge part of me is missing. Like I had left a limb behind somewhere. Moving – it unsettles me. Leaving friends behind – makes me feel like I am missing something from myself.
+ Tired and sore. Stretching doesn’t help, sleeping doesn’t help and it hurts. Tired of the hurts.
+ Being lectured. It was my cousin’s wedding as we saw family we haven’t seen for ages. Of course they would stick their noses into business that is not there and insist that they knew best.
The Good
+ Getting better. I love that I have an immune system now. It still astounds me that colds no longer take 23 weeks to clear up. Also – I was able to go home and sleep, which is goooood.
+ Writing my birthday and Christmas wish list. It’s just fun.
+ Kitty cuddles. It’s getting colder which means more cuddles. I love the cuddles.
+ Lots of thinking and realising and understanding of the limb missing feelings
+ My cousin got married! There was a celidh! you really can’t beat a celidh at a wedding.
+ I saw my sister for two nights. TWO nights!
+ Stepping away from the advice and knowing that really, it was their stuff.
That’s all for now folks! I’m off to sleep under my desk now.
Boo to Iguanas. Yay for shiva nata writing! I love the idea of dropping iguanas, too. I’m sure it’s not so much fun when they dent your car, but it just strikes me as delightful.
My hard this week:
My body is having its monthly psycho crazy b____ phase at the moment. This makes everything suck. Pain, intestinal woe, not being able to cope with damn anything, suckful sucky suckness.
Uh, anything else? Don’t know, can’t see out of the suckful fog right now. Oh, my yoga habit is broken right now. Not helping. I think otherwise my week was pretty good, especially the weekend.
Good stuff:
I wrote two thirds of a book. That was cool. It’s all about the blanketforts, spacification and time-takery. Words flowing like… a thing that flows.
I made some pretty good food, in general. Bit heavy on the fat perhaps, but delicious. Good stuff.
Love to all the chickeners!
.-= Willie Hewes´s last post … Guesthouse “Patience” =-.
The hard: Nothing really. I have a vague memory of some things I thought were hard at the beginning of the week but they are just a vague memory.
The good:
The school bus stop is outside my house so every morning there is the sound of happy Bolivians and their llamas laughing and talking having coffee.
Saying to the fam: I’m not leaving town today. I’m staying in my new place to settle and write and maybe even draw perhaps try out the jacuzzi tub.
Planning my artists retreat this weekend. It will involve not driving, and walking and writing.
I wrote a song. It needs tweaking and some guitar to accompany is but I wrote it and I love it. It’s not quite a retro-pastiche but I still fear it’s never going to be a break-away pop hit.
Oh, my. I think I would love Mexican Ramones. Also, I now have the same Magnetic Fields song in my head as Shannon.
The hard:
– I decided not to see my acupuncturist anymore. At first I thought it was helpful, but my migraines got worse again. And when I look at the calendar where I record all my migraines, it seems like maybe it didn’t really help anyway. Hard to say. I always have good months and bad months no matter what I do.
– Kind of overwhelmed at all I have to do to get ready for the two shows I’m doing this month. Trying not to be overwhelmed, telling myself I’ll get done what I get done, but urgency monster says there’s no time to relax! Too much to do! Get to work!
The good:
+ I’ve made good progress on all the stuff I need to do, so I think I’m ok.
+ Lots of butterflies in my garden.
+ I moved the speakers into my studio so I can listen to my ipod while I work without wearing headphones. Headphones annoy me, so headphoneless music = good.
.-= Riin´s last post … Random- ’cause that’s how I roll =-.
See ya later week! Good riddance! Buh-bye.
Deep breath.
Ah.
Hard:
-I don’t even know how to start. Computer. Co-worker. House trashed because impending doom-stress ties my hands and makes nothing accomplishable.
-Lying liars and people who don’t listen to reason. Grrrr.
-I am only one person. As much as I try, I cannot multiply and accomplish what three or four people can accomplish. Two, maybe. But not more than that.
Good:
-The leaves are changing, and the world is acting like it’s fall. Cold mornings. Owls hooting. Walks in crunchy leaves commencing in five-four-three-two-one…
-Sovereignty. Seems this is the critical lesson for me of late. Learning it = hard. Practicing it = good.
-I started a class in handspinning last weekend. I haven’t signed up to learn a thing I longed to learn in many many years. I love it. I love the shop where it’s happening. I love the little drive out there. I love everything about it.
-Beets. Something about the cooling-off time makes me crave beets, and oh how I love beets.
-I have a closet that reeks of wool. I’ve decided it’s the perfect refueling station. It’s dark in there. And it smells like your favorite sweater with just a wee bit of snow on it. There are other magical things in there, too. My paints! My alter ego wardrobe. The baby blanket my granny quilted for me…etc. When I need to refuel, I suggest a game of hide-and-seek to the Little Bird. And all of my hiding places are the same place.
.-= Emily´s last post … Three Things – Homework =-.
it really can’t be Friday yet. I am unprepared. Let’s do this.
This week’s hard:
– Avalanches of stuff to get done. Which is a bad analogy for me, since I don’t ski.
– Misbehaving kittens expanding their territory of misbehavior.
This week’s good:
– There wasn’t a whole lot of hard, really.
– Had a really great group of people for my wire-wrapping class on Monday, people I’d totally hang out with if the occasion presented itself. Love that.
– Went to an Indians game and had a good time chilling with girlfriends and laughing at how pathetic this team is.
– Bought a snazzy new iPod, a tiny little thing that clips on my sleeve and makes me very, very happy, to replace my old brick of an iPod that wouldn’t hold much charge anymore. It’s blue. I call it Blueberry.
– Last show of the summer tomorrow, and I’m ready for it. Not feeling the panic of seventy bazillion things I must get done before tomorrow.
Happy Friday, Chickeneers!
.-= Lori Paximadis´s last post … Rocky River Fall Arts Festival =-.
I’m with you, Havi. This week was a whole lot of rottenness.
Was there some good, though?
Hmmm…how about pleasant.
The Pleasant::
+Letting myself go to bed early when I’d had enough of the day.
+My cute, snuggly puggie.
+Gentleman friend’s lending me an ear (and a shoulder to cry on).
+Long walks with crunchy leaves underfoot.
+Eating mindfully and healthy.
+Attended first book club meeting in years. Was nice.
The Shitty:
-Major work drama. Things changing constantly. Being told I’m valued, then almost immediately devalued. I must admit I actually hate this job. It’s eating me alive.
-Major anxiety all week. A lot of chest and throat tightness. Fear. Anticipation of more bad.
-Insecurities abound.
-Disillusionment that I’ll never find the right place for me — in all ways, not just job-related.
-Crying myself to sleep. Twice.
-Lacking perspective? You bet!
@Emily – Spinning! Yay! The world has another spinner!
.-= Riin´s last post … Random- ’cause that’s how I roll =-.
Havi, I’m sorry for the hard, hugs.
Pretty much the whole town closed up for independence day. Then there were marching bands and fire crackers. At one in the morning. Loud and ugh. I’m not sure why a country that has so recently had such armed conflict would so often set off things that go boom. And so frequently. Like all the damn time, but even more this week.
Earlier this week, my brain decided that now would be a good time to learn Hebrew, you know, while I’m in Central America, because it’s so convenient. It has been interesting and funish, though.
The good:
I think the blog cohesion I have been asking for has found it’s path for arrival. I signed up for Catherine Caine’s AWE.
I realized that I start traveling again in two weeks, looking forward to getting out of the chilly mountains for a bit.
Red bananas are wonderful, almost like ice cream that doesn’t melt.
I’ve just started Shiva Nata and already with the ideas and patterns.
The bad
I realized that I start traveling again in two weeks, and since it’s for almost two months I’m going to need to find places where I want to be for a while, but the path is long the rest of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica. By Thanksgiving.
I can feel the writing wanting to come out, but haven’t had a sit down for it yet. It’s getting uncomfortable
The chilly mountains and accompanying incessant runny nose.
I’m going to have to let some things go on the list of what I wanted to do here. Not enough time left.
.-= Kathryn´s last post … Of necessity =-.
Sorry about your walls and general crappiness. Sending de-crappyfying hugs…
And…
Yay! It’s Friday!
It’s been one of those weeks…
I’m gonna start with the good:
+ Finally shifting a HUGE iguana and getting a lot of pending writing work done.
+ Almost figuring out what my Thing is and how it will take shape and feeling all warm and fuzzy about it.
+ Shivanata! And the massive sense of achievement I’ve got going on at the moment, now I can almost do Level 1 arms without hitting myself in the face. Shivanata – now with less concussion!
+ Getting a shout-out on Havi’s blog! (Extra yay!)
And the bad:
+ Being sick. Ick ick ick.
+ Summer ending and grey icky Spanish autumn creeping up on me and just being grey and dull.
+ Watching more iguanas creep into my life.
+ Feeling a bit scared and stuck about my Thing.
Very freaked out by Shannon’s post about “iguana-dropping weather”. Maybe my apartment’s parked under some kind of phantom iguana tree. That would sooo explain the iguana invasion I’ve been going through lately.
Now to the weekend!
x
.-= Eleanor´s last post … Figuring out my Thing =-.
Yay, Friday Chicken! I was away for the last few. Didja miss me?
The hard:
– Lots of angst and worry and heaviness, for unknown reasons.
– Legal annoyances.
– Insomnia.
The good:
+ My BEST art show ever! Hurray! I’ve found my Right People, at last! (Minor Hard: they all live far away from me. But I’m hoping I can visit them once or twice a year.)
+ Discovered a new goofy workout routine that uses a sledgehammer. Could be fun, if I don’t put a hole in the floor.
.-= Barbara J Carter´s last post … Showing art under the redwoods =-.
“Minstrel of the Apocalypse!” That one is so full of awesome that I’m thinking of learn an instrument just so I can do covers of their songs.
This week? Yeah.
There was some Hard.
– Spouse drops financial bombshell on me, then 20min later? Oops. It’s all ok. Never mind.
– Two days spent recovering from the panic.
– Not feeling so hot. Headache. Allergy. General Icky.
– *Still* itchy from poison ivy. Whine.
– Arguments. Double Whine.
– Everything taking longer than it should.
– Hair color is just … wrong. Thank the clowns it’s temporary.
(Thank the Clowns! Loved their first album. But it’s just one guy)
But along with the hard, there was much good that has me just.. happy! excited! Even the iguanas are looking pleased, and like they might even MOVE today.. just a little, of course, but still! So.
The Good and the Happy!
– The Circus. It is Live. And there are POSTS! And people are reading them!
– Doing art for the parade was fun and rewarding. Lots of work, but happy work.
– Ringmaster Hat! With feathers. Wanting more feathers.
– Connecting to people on Twitter in fun ways.
– Just being pleased with myself is such a darn nice feeling after so much frustration.
Ok, now to go read everyone else’s chickens. Here’s a Yay for your goods, and hugs for your difficults!
.-= Tori Deaux´s last post … The Circus- In Three Rings Or Less =-.
Chicken…bawkbawkbawk…
For me, this has been a big week.
+ Taught the first class of Become Your Own Business Adviser, with a group of creative, powerful, interesting folks. Tingling with excitement about what we can create together.
+ Getting ready for my birthday tomorrow. The energies are gathering, as they do each year, and I’m filled with love and gratitude for my life, my amazing friends and beautiful family.
+ Found the perfect gifts for each person who’s coming to my birthday dinner tomorrow.
+ The snail mailbox has yielded treasures all week. Loving, appreciative and hilarious cards and letters. A gorgeous, handmade, lacy teal shawl, which I wore all day yesterday, and will wear with my black party dress tomorrow. So much goodness.
+ Epiphanies in my sleep. I’ve been waking up just enough to write them down, then falling asleep again.
A good week.
Happy weekend, everyone. Hugs and softness for all that’s hard, and celebrating the good with you.
Love, Hiro
.-= Hiro Boga´s last post … Nine years ago- today… =-.
I will cast my vote for — oh, I can’t decide. I guess it’s a toss-up between Mexican Ramones and Meshugge Pop.
This week kind of drifted by in a haze. I’m not sure what I remember about it.
Hard:
-The recurring feeling that I will never again have be on top of everything I’m supposed to be doing, that even if I try my best, I can never get it right, not all of it, not all the time. If that’s just life, well, I am not impressed. I don’t think my life used to feel this way. What the hell?
-Just got a phone call from my daughter’s school: they want to meet with me next week to chat about her adjustment to middle school. Great. Something to be anxious about for the next few days.
Good:
+Had a lovely day trip with my daughter and some good friends last Sunday. Exploring new places — it never fails to lift my spirits.
+Working on my dissertation proposal. Not a lot of visible progress, but at least I’m in there, poking at it.
+Had one of those lightning-bolt epiphanies that can’t really be put into words, kind of like a dream in which things that sound mundane on the surface feel rich with significance. It left me with the feeling good about myself and the self-work I’ve been doing.
Sending everyone hugs for the hard, big goofy grins for the good, and heartfelt wishes for a glorious weekend.
.-= Kathleen Avins´s last post … Re-invention =-.
The hard:
– Staying up all night Monday for a sleep-deprived EEG on Tuesday (I do not react well to disruptions in my sleep)
– Making it through the second week of my new blog (when the initial enthusiasm was starting to wane, but it hadn’t really become part of my life yet)
The good:
+ Made it through the second week of my new blog, and it’s starting to become more organic now (it’s 11:00 Friday morning and I’ve already posted today, plus I have an idea for Monday’s post)
+ My son is enjoying 1st grade much more than he did kindergarten, so getting ready for the bus in the morning has been much more pleasant
My wife and I play the Fake Band Name Game too, but our catchphrase is (imagine this in a classic rock DJ voice) “Live from the Howling Wolf, it’s ___________ with special guest Green Leaf Cult!” (Venue and guest names from our time living in New Orleans.) By that standard, “Minstrel of the Apocalyse” is indeed an AWESOME band name.
.-= Jason Burnett´s last post … Every family needs one =-.
Appalachian Hellfire! Appalachian Hellfire! Man, I am already at that fake concert and I am soooo psyched for them to come on stage. There had better be tons of banjo and cussing. And breaks in the middle of songs for foot-stomping and yelling in time. (Sidenote from the imaginary concert: maybe I need to go grab this week’s WW to see who exactly was playing in that category? Because it sounds like they really would be a lot of fun.)
As always, reading through everyone’s Hard makes me want to gather up the whole Chickeneers group for a big quiet restful nap. Hope everyone gets one extra Good to outweigh all the Hard and Stuck going around this week.
My abbreviated chicken, more detail on the blog if you swing that way:
+ Biking biking biking makes me happy!
– Self-imposed shoes and trolls — why?
+ Chronic pain flare is (nearly) GONE
– The week of the nonstandard days (all of them!)
But the best part of my week: learning this word querencia from Kathleen on Havi’s “Setting and place” post. This word is especially awesome because I feel like I had a lot of it this week, and it was such a good feeling. Here is Kathleen’s original comment: http://fluentself.com//blog/stuff/setting-and-place/#comment-22527 I just thought it was the awesomest thing ever.
.-= Jesse´s last post … Friday Check-in- Querencia ahoy! =-.
I would totally go to S. Florida when it’s cold just to see iguanas fall out of trees then fall on my ass laughing until I cried. Who knew lizards fell out of trees?
Oh and clown colored hair: never try a new shade of red the week you are getting married. I looked liked a female Carrot Top and immediately went back to the store for a dark brown to balance it out. I came out with a nice dark auburn color in the end, but just don’t do a different shade of red 4 days before your wedding.
My vote is for Minstrel of the Apocalypse although Messugah Pop is running a close second.
The hard
The stuck continued well into this week while I wallowed in TV watching. Didn’t get much done the first 3 days of this week but…
The good
I made myself move Wednesday and took a walk in our wonderful fall weather.
Yesterday I got back to working on The Book Proposal and the final edit of the 2nd sample chapter is now done. Moving onto the Introduction today.
Got all my errands done yesterday, so I can clean house today.
There is a new post up on The Blog, and it’s poetry! About fall!
My Hubby ordered me a Kindle; I’m breathlessly awaiting it’s arrival. And it has 3G, so we’ll have internet access when we go visit my Luddite of a mother over Thanksgiving. Yeah!
Blessed Yom Kippur to those who observing it. And happy weekend to everyone!
.-= Shawna R. B. Atteberry´s last post … Poetry Party 47- Remember =-.
Man, last week I did a Chicken on my own blog and was like, “aw, YEAH! This is gonna be awesome! Documenting progress!” But then this week totally sucked and now I don’t want to do a Chicken.
I will anyway, mind you, cos I’m an ol’ cuss like that (wow, I have been watching too many westerns lately). But I wanted to whine here first. It makes me feel a lot better to know someone as awesome as you, Havi, has crummy weeks too! Not cos I wish you crummy weeks, but because if awesome people have crummy weeks, then my crummy week does not mean I am not awesome myself.
Here’s hoping the weekend improves things!
.-= Ealasaid´s last post … Why I am not Psyched for Rock Band 3 =-.
Oy with the poodles already. So glad you got to tramp and nap, even with all the hard.
Hard:
Lucy the guinea pig didn’t wake up on Friday morning. Hard hard hard. She was only 3.
The big tornado that blew through 2 miles from here yesterday (The Plains, Ohio). Here it just looks like it rained. There the roads are blocked off and the little trailer park that is nestled in the valley below my water towers is devastated. We drove through it without realizing it was a tornado until we saw the news later that evening.
Izzy’s friend is throwing shoes behind his back to another mutual friend. I never knew boys played girl games as well. Hard enough to live through it as the victim. Harder to watch and not be able to fix it.
Missing my friend and not getting to see him today because of car repair issues.
Good:
Hanging out with another local friend and finding out we have more in common than I thought. Really feeling happy afterward. Yay for playmates! (we sat at Donkey Coffee and I taught her how to bead embroider).
The shelf is cleared and the price tags are ready for the imminent pumpkin arrival at the grocery store.
My parents sent us an amazon gift certificate for our anniversary. We got Supernatural Season 4 and I was able to get Doctor Who Season 5 “watch instantly” for only $9 because they sent me a coupon for buying the Supernatural dvd. 😀
Making it to our 25th anniversary on Monday.
Finding my sovereignty when it comes to entering art shows. Choosing.
.-= Andi´s last post … The Sketchbook Project- Week Two =-.
Ugh, I know other stuff must have happened this week, but I’m having trouble thinking past the REALLY BIG stuff. Maybe later I’ll come back and see if I can remember anything that happened on Monday and Tuesday… there must have been something.
The Hard
I got fired on Wednesday morning. In the worst, most nightmarish way possible, with long winding corridors to the conference room of doom and the most inappropriately (to me, in the moment, I know she was just drawing strong boundaries and I could never in a million years do her job) professional and upbeat HR lady in a leopard-print sweater… I’m sure the day will live on in my nightmares for years to come. It was that horrible.
So that led to, like, massive money panic, because we’re in the process of moving to a new place and it’s the worst timing ever and I had to go into this whole death spiral of MY FAILURE IS GOING TO CAUSE MY FAMILY TO BECOME HOMELESS.
ahem.
The Good
Receiving amazing, eye-popping amounts of both emotional and practical support from my family and friends. Just ridiculous amounts of love, for me, when I’m feeling like absolute dirt and can’t imagine why anyone would even want to speak to me. The sort of thing that makes me cry in a *good* way.
Knowing to call on external reserves right away — with the most neurotic “I know you guys are all going to hate me now” text message ever — helped me prepare to eventually be able to find my internal reserves of strength, and I’ve gotten to work on fixing up my resumes and cover letters and reaching out to see where this is going to lead me. I’m starting to see it in a positive way, like getting dumped only to realize that you deserved way better anyway — not that my job wasn’t *good,* and I hope it will make somebody else really happy, but it wasn’t *right for me,* and I am on the verge of accepting that that’s okay.
Good luck with your iguanas, Havi! Thanks for sharing so many of the techniques that are helping me get through this.
I like Smartass Punk and George Division for totally opposite sorts of nostalgia. Oh, the ’80s!
The Hard:
– Anxious, moody and meh
– Really disappointed in something I had high hopes for
– Money woes just in time to feel bad about the couple of birthday treats I gave myself
– Feeling adrift and disconnected
– Failing to help when I think I might be able to, because I don’t know that I can
– Worried Bella may have arthritis or some other back-hip issue I can’t afford to get fixed
– Feeling behind despite having lists of things done
– Generally not feeling like a very good grownup
– Or human being when I want to strangle the neighbor’s yappy dogs
Both Good and Hard:
* Acknowledging my pattern of wanting someone else to have the answers so I can implement competently and get praise
The Good:
+ Got lots of things done, both clienty and household
+ New ice cream maker! I have no idea what I’ll make first, but yum.
+ Lots of out means lots of excuses to get boba tea
+ Got to play some really fun games this week
+ Pod’s been very cuddly lately, as has Bella in her cranky way
+ Fall is coming, with its delightful cool gloom
.-= Amy Crook´s last post … Elizabeth Halt =-.
@Andi- Thanks for the GG reference, totally made me smile. And, Congrats on 25!
.-= Kathryn´s last post … Of necessity =-.
Hi Havi, Everything is ruined! I love it. I can commiserate on the hard, TGIF! I’ll definitely be checking out Mumford. Red noses are able to release lots of hilarity and stress, much fun to be had. Thank goodness there’s always good with the hard. Tramp on!
Tricia
I look forward to the Shiva Nata posts.
Also, Happy Birthday, Hiro! I hope you have a most excellent day!
.-= claire´s last post … Life of Art SitRep 32 =-.
Modest mouseketeers, yeah! My vote.
This week has been sooo intense and full-on that I am not sure if it wasn’t two weeks.
The hard:
– Endlessly long to-do lists at work, so many thing to do and to consider and not to forget.
– Moments of panic during which I am sure I will keep forgetting important stuff.
– Needing a system to get organised and not quite sure how to do it. While I am organising one thing and putting it on my to-do list three new things are coming in at the same time.
– Not convinced by the place I will move in temporarily next week.
– Canteen food.
– Living out of my suitcase.
– Lack of silence.
– Excel lists.
The good:
– The heart-warming welcome on the official start of the theatre season, people kept pouring into my office. Lots of hugs. And even flowers.
– Remembering how lovely the work environment is. Mostly very cool people and I can hear the music from the rehearsal rooms and studios at my desk.
– 4 years of not having done this job somehow melted away and I felt that I still pretty much have a clue what I need to do.
– Having a million little things to do means that one constantly gets something done, little by little.
– 10 minutes of yoga morning and evening.
– New boots. And leg warmers in various colours.
Chickeneers, have a truly wonderful weekend!
happiest birthday, hiro!
sorry the week ganged up against you and tried to hold you down, havi. boo on crappy days.
the hard:
– always the tired. there is not enough sleeping time. plus the used-car-lot-bright nightlight was waking me up. (got a new dimmer one and it’s helping) can you say princess and the pea?
– grumpy co-worker grumpier. so much i couldn’t keep my mouth shut anymore and now i’m getting the cold shoulder. which makes my but-everyone-is-supposed-to-like-me moster stand up and shout.
– not enough time for all my projects. can someone sponsor me so i can not have to work for a living? k, thanks!
-why is my calf more sore now than it was when it first healed? is it because i’m using it again? if so, boo.
the awesome:
-my most difficult student suddenly knows how to behave like a nice, productive citizen of the classroom. the very first day she was on the behavior plan i carefully wrote for her, she had a MUCH better day. by day 3, perfection! by day 5, we’d both gotten comfortable and rediscovered “old” habits, but it’s wasn’t horrible for either of us. she felpt so good about herself and so did i.
– i got to teach a restorative yoga class. 4 new people to yoga (and the studio) – that are friends of mine {2 of which were TEACHERS came}. my plan to help teachers take good care of themselves is coming together.
– a couple other bloggers wrote their own posts about my yoga isn’t all f#*king sunshine and rainbows post and i’ve had lots of new vistors to the blog. so exciting!
.-= Tami´s last post … Song of the Day! =-.
Hugs to everyone who needs them… what was in the water this week?
And happy birthday to Hiro! 🙂
The Hard:
Unbelievably cranky and overtired. I feel like the world’s biggest toddler this week, and there was no time for napping. 🙁
Son’s preschool people. For whatever reason, they felt like shoe-throwing a bit.
Sister in law visiting. Love her. Hate touristy stuff and too much together time and no writing.
The Good:
Found a new place to live! Half the price of current, same city, same school district. Smaller, but that’s fine.
Got 15 pages on freebie ebook for new blog.
Hugs and hang in there, chickeneers!
.-= Cathy´s last post … Why Do We Keep Trying To Be Prom Queen =-.
Thanks for the hug Cathy:)
And as always, thanks for bearing your soul and giving us a place to hang.
Okay, The Hard:
Beginning of semester + new job with mentoring responsibilities:
Time consuming, not good pay, haven’t gotten around to my own homework, not sure if I’m actually going to be helping anyone out. And I care too much. I really care about the success and well being of the students I work with, and I want to give them the good that has been given to me.
Sleep deprived:
I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night, either totally anxious, bathroom needy, or peppy and ready for the day (2:45 am, seriously Shannon).
Speaking in front of 300+ people:
I can bring out the confidence, but 300+? That made me scared. And robbed me of three hours of sleep.
I’ve misplaced my verbal filter:
Somehow…and I think it has something to do with my new hat (role, job etc.). I’m like just saying every little thought that pops into my head, to anyone anywhere. Like telling my beloved acquaintances, whose names I don’t know, and don’t really care to ever know, from the dog park, that the poo I just bagged was icy cold yet still squishy, and that I didn’t think it was my dog’s… Silence ensued… As did the fear that I would be outcasted from my afternoon haven of DOGS! Oh crap, now I’ve told my fluent self acquaintances too!
My back has been hurting again:
Bending and putting on my shoes like I’m 90…
AND…Shiva collected dust this week.
The Good:
Beginning of semester + new job with mentoring responsibilities:
It was a lot of work, but it feels good to have gotten this week done. Also, I know I’m in for some major growth. I wanted it, I put myself in this situation, and it has arrived. I’m ready for it even when it seems like I’m not.
Fall:
Fall air, clothes and food. Simply Fall.
Being able to nonviolently tell a friend what happens inside of me when they do ________. :
This is a friend who I have a hard time sharing these feelings with. I have yet to see how this plays out. In fact, I have yet to see how a lot of things about this week play out.
Spending time with my 2 generation older friend across the hall:
Somehow, this makes us both feel like children. We drink, eat cheese, watch foreign movies and football (her idea), talk about our feelings, our passions and our exes, all of which may be punctuated by unprecedented tears or fits of laughter.
School is back:
Knowledge. Knowledge. Knowledge. Laid out neatly. I thought I would not like my classes this semester; turns out, I love them, and I have one inspiring professora in particular. Love me a good role model.
Reconnecting with my Aunt:
I don’t live near any family. It’s just that way. My aunt and I communicated in the most geniune way.
After a short visit with my sister, I was able to express my feelings in the truest way… It’s like this. I eat a lot of spinach salads. They make me feel up to par. My life, is spinach salads… But when she came to visit… she added the dressing. I can live without her, but it is SO MUCH BETTER to have her near.
Talking with my aunt – the dressing.
Thanks Havi… that felt good.
I wrote my chicken yesterday, pressed the submit button and the post didn’t appear 🙁 So will try again with a bit of a chicken delay.
The hard:
– An endlessly long to-to list at work.
– Moments of panic about how not to forget to-do things and how to get organized.
– Lack of silence.
– Living out of my suitcase.
– Not sure if the place I will move into next week is a good solution but lack of other options.
– Canteen food.
– My work in one city and my home in another.
The good:
– I had the most heart-warming welcome at the official start of the theatre season. People coming into my office to say how happy they were to see me back. Hugs. Flowers. I was to touched and so happy to see everyone again.
– Just enjoying what I am doing at work despite the workload.
– Focus.
– Getting on my yoga mat every morning and evening for 10 minutes.
– New boots. And leg warmers in various colours.
Have a lovely Sunday, chickeneers.