Friday Nite

Sometimes the best way to spend a Friday nite is drinking red wine, eating a homemade pizza and playing Scrabble with your hubby.  It was just perfect. 

Could we have a little quiet please?

Gregg and I had the opportunity this past Saturday to attend the City of Wheaton 150th Birthday Gala.  It was quite the event -- black ties and long dresses all over, gold satin tablecloths and napkins, gorgeous floral arrangements, gold rimmed china and glassware, harpists, fancy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.  The folks who voluntarily busted their butts for the past year in order to make this happen, did so with the intentions that all the proceeds from the celebration would benefit 15 area charities, of which one of those charities is where I work.  Hence, why I wanted to go.  Gregg went by default, although he is actively involved with the same group.  I told him we were going.  

While I will spare all the details surrounding our involvement in this beyond simply attending, I just want to state one thing very clearly.  I really get frustrated when people cannot sit quietly for presentations and speeches.  Now granted, it was long and we were seated just outside the main banquet area, but there were closed circuit tv's showing us what was going on and the doors were opened between the 2 rooms.  Why is it that people can sit quietly in a movie theater for 2, even 3 hours, when the performers would have no clue whether you were talking or not, but when real live people have prepared and stand before you in the flesh, you have no qualms speaking to your neighbor and across the round table of 10 at the same time they are trying to give their carefully thought out words?  Would it not be better for you to remove yourself from the room and go into the hall or bathroom to have your discussions and return when you are ready to sit quietly?  It certainly does make it difficult for others to enjoy the event.  I considered throwing pieces of my pretzel roll at the offenders, but it was too good to waste.

And so, although we looked AWESOME, I think Gregg would agree with me that we are not meant to attend these events except on rare occasions.  I love getting dressed up, but when I do I hope that I am acting appropriately.  Maybe it comes with age (although most of the gregarious ones were old enough to know better), or maybe it comes from having been on the side of the presenting fence where you compete with the talkers, but I think falling asleep (although not the preferred method of listening to speeches) would be a better alternative -- at least until the snoring starts.  I was grateful for the quiet found in the CheckOut area where my co-workers were stationed until such time as those doors opened and the throngs invaded.  

And now, on to the next event.....let's see how this group will do!

How Does This Happen?

So, I start off innocently enough by filling in for someone who cannot attend a meeting just to get an update on the progress and plans for an event of which our agency is receiving some of the proceeds.  And now, here we are 6 months later and I've become a minor part of the committee, but nonetheless, I still have 5 boxes of stuff to take over to the location this morning.   And I woke up this morning thinking, "I should have put that list in this format too so we can record all the financials better...."  And so it goes.

I do have a mug that I saved when I was streamlining the cabinet -- it reads, "Stop Me Before I Volunteer Again."

And yet, this stuff energizes me.  It's been a while since I have taken on a big project for one of the kid's schools or other worthy cause, outside of work, and while I'm not sure the group of women who have spent the past year working on this gala fully agree that I've been helpful, it has been fun to get back into this.  It's just been more than originally planned and it certainly would have been less stressful if it were another time of year but, it's almost here.  It's Tonight.  The City of Wheaton 150th Birthday Gala.  400 people. Black Tie (no, Gregg is not wearing a penguin suit -- it was hard enough to get him to attend in a regular suit -- besides since we represent one of the non-profit recipient agencies, I think we should look like we need the money....).  I'm going early so I told him he can take me earlier and then go back home (very close) to get ready and then,  just like when I still give the kids chores, I told him, "...and then come back.  Before the end of the evening.  To be sociable.  And to keep me company."  I'm afraid he'll come back home, pop a pizza in the oven, turn on "Braveheart" and forget all about where he is supposed to be.  The event runs from 6:30 to 1:00 -- his eyes popped out of his head when he heard that....

Well, I guess my thoughts are this -- when you take ownership in something, you truly do get something out of it other than a bit of stress.  You get a sense of pride in the job you've done (even if others may not agree with you whole-heartedly).  You get a sense of accomplishment that you were able to squeeze it all in AND take a shower.  You learn to put on the blinders to the furry furniture and piled up laundry to find something with a bit more meaning and greater impact on others.  And then you get to go to a fancy dinner "GALA".  Beats what we normally do on Saturday night -- Scrabble board, you'll just have to wait. 

My Brain is Full

So, today was the perfect blend of learning, exchanging, accomplishing and celebrating.  Now, one would think this would be a good thing.  But as the old saying goes, "Too much of good thing."   I know that doesn't make sense but when you Google "Too much of a good thing," that's all there is -- no end to the statement.  The definition or interpretation states, "Excess may do you harm."  Personally, that makes a heck of a lot more sense.

And so today, the excess may have done me in.  I've had too much of a good thing.  Restated in Gail format, "I'm a hamster on a wheel and I can't run that fast."  But that's not all bad.  In and amongst the panel discussion on succession planning, the Wheaton Sesquicentennial Gala commitment that went far beyond just showing up, the WDSRA dinner auction and the yet to happen retirement party (of which I am REALLY looking forward to the alcoholic offerings), was a 2 hour window consisting of watching "The Secret" dvd.  Now, I have the book, but have not finished reading the thing -- tried but apparently didn't quite care about a secret at the time - but the topic came up at our Great Places to Work committee meeting and I happened to have the dvd from a co-worker sitting on my countertop for the past month.  

SO, I watched it and, other than feeling like I was in the middle of the DaVinci Code and Groundhog Day, it was pretty good in concept.  SO, I brought it to work so the group could watch it today.  Those of you who do not know "The Secret", the essential principle is that the Law of Attraction - Like attracts Like - applies to everyone's life and so we can control, in a way, that which comes to us.  And that boils down to how you approach life -- be happy, look for the good, speak/think/act in positive ways and positive words/thoughts/actions will come back to you over and over again.  They use examples of material things such as money and homes, but also jobs, relationships, health.  And the concept is pretty darn simple but the key is awareness -- you have to be aware of how and what you are saying, thinking, doing and the manner in which you are doing those so you can perhaps flip them into a positive process.  The Law of Attraction works for both the positive and negative.  

And when you start paying attention to people, you start to see how this concept could indeed be based on a solid foundation of truth.  People who find the good in situations, have a happy disposition, extend themselves in positive ways, tend to have less misfortune come their way or simply look at through a different perspective so as to not let it get the best of them.  Those who struggle through difficult times and continue to wish for better and find all the negatives overwhelming, simply seem to attract more negatives and find negatives in even the smallest of issues.  Now, they certainly aren't asking for that directly, but it happens.  I can put a couple of names in each category - myself included - even if only for a short period of time, and can see the patterns.  Makes you much more aware of your attitude and actions.

Two other thoughts related to this:  The situation we currently find ourselves in is a result of our past actions or inactions.  They are not a result of present situations.  If our weight is out of control, it didn't happen today -- it's a result of poor habits over many years (why did I choose THAT example?).  If our financial situation is gloomy, we didn't lose all our money today -- it's the result of poor planning and fiscal irresponsibility in the past.  And if we do nothing today differently than we did yesterday, the future will simply be more of the same.  We must implement change immediately in order to see different results tomorrow or next week or next year.

Secondly, a thought stolen from a Sunday newspaper ad for Cost Plus World Market -- yes, I wrote it down and made my own version for free instead of spending $40 for the real thing because it was the thought, not the picture, that was important.

We tend to seek Happiness

when in fact,

Happiness is a Choice.

So choose well, young Skywalker!  

Now I'm going to drink at a retirement party!!!

The Wonder of Technology

Here I am, at 54 years old, one year away from the sometimes much anticipated "Senior Specials" eligibility, and I'm writing random thoughts in a BLOG.  BLOG -- not a terribly friendly sounding word -- actually sounds rather frightening, and so it probably is.  

Why am I doing this?  

Because my 22 year old daughter is in Scotland and she decided this would be a great way to share her experiences during her 4 months abroad.   Although we write, Skype, talk pretty often, there is something innately fun about sitting down to read about her most recent excursions or discoveries.  And I can do it when I need it most -- a break from work, a distraction from chores, an option other than television hockey.  

And so it occurs to me that perhaps, this would be a venue for me to record observations, revelations and celebrations I personally experience.  Now, I have written in a journal the old fashioned way; but while that has a definite personal touch to it, I found that the only time I wrote in there was when I was depressed or angry.  And, quite honestly, I don't want to read back through it so I don't have a clue why anyone else would either.

So, as my mind wanders (which it tends to do more frequently than not), and as I am filling my head with quotes and life lessons to be shared with my co-workers under the guise of "training", I'm thinking this might well be some place for me to log those random enlightenments.  

Will they make sense?  I wouldn't hold my breath.  

Will they make me feel better?  That's the plan.

And so here we go, at 54 years of age, on a computer and internet system that I cannot even begin to comprehend the workings of but in which I put my trust.  Let the games begin!