How my procrastination grows...

(aka "This is all Twitter's fault!")



I love to write. This is no secret. I have kept paper journals/diaries for more years than I can count. I wrote and passed notes in school like a pro. I kept up with correspondence and loved nothing more than to open the mailbox and see a letter waiting for me. Most times I would sit down and start responding to said letter immediately after reading it. Sending cards was a specialty…I could go in Hallmark and find just the right card for any occasion and mail it out immediately, acknowledging everyone’s moments in life.

Then this thing called email showed up. Oh how I was enchanted. I could type out my correspondence and it would get to the recipient immediately! No more having to wait days for a letter to appear in my mailbox, I could have replies within hours. That little electronic mail system became my primary way of keeping in touch with people. I could send greetings to acknowledge your occasions without having to go to Hallmark. I could share good or bad news in a moment. I discovered instant messenger, chat rooms, message boards, and Live Journal. My hand writing days of writing were over!

I noticed here and there that I was slacking off in the area of keeping in touch with friends and family, but would try to rectify the situation. But another new and shiny thing was put in front of me: Social Media! Blogging (I guess I never really considered Live Journal a blog as mine is locked and private)! MySpace! Facebook! Oh how easy it was to keep up with everyone on these sites. I mean, I could see my friend’s vacation photos in minutes without having to wait for a letter with pictures or an email detailing what happened. I knew via updates what was going on to the minute in their lives.

But here is the problem with that…it caused the loss of the personal feel to it. Because everything was so readily available people started to get lazier in the personal contact field of life. And why not, you already knew everything so why bother emailing, texting, calling, or heaven forbid writing someone to ask how they were doing, how their vacation was, how their children are.

And now we have Twitter. I’m so immensely twitterpated!! I love that little site with the 140 character limit to it. However, there is also a big downside to Twitter. I have slacked off even more in the correspondence, Live Journaling, and Blogging. I don’t even visit Facebook as much (and MySpace…I don’t even know if I know my password anymore) because I have Twitter and I can give updates frequently and save time because it is limited to so few words. Emails sit for weeks in my email in box (or as Jeania can vouch, two months. So shameful) without me responding to them. Live Journal goes without updates and I plan to post on the blog daily but often find myself skipping it as well. The procrastinator in me loves to point fingers at Twitter for this!

But let’s be honest…I’m Queen of Procrastinating and my reign is tyrannical. I have no plans to stop tweeting, of course. But the words that are swimming in my brain are getting impatient and looking to get out more often, instead of having to be squished down to 140 characters on a timeline.


(How cute is this little guy? He is my new Procratinating mascot!)

A little sanity induced thankfulness!

I "met" Leslie in 2005 through the "General Hospital" community on Live Journal. She was going to be coming to the annual GH Fan Club Weekend and had no one to attend Kelly Monaco's event with so I invited her to come hang with the group I was there with. We officially met in July of that year, when as Leslie will tell you, I caller stalked her. I saw her wandering by the pool with her friends so I called her and told her that I saw her. Haha! I'm such a nerd. The friendship has been strong since the day we met and she is without doubt, one of my closest friends. Leslie is an inspiration to me in the way she loves her friends. Leslie's heart is big and giving. To be a friend of her's is to always know that you have someone in your corner. If you need to laugh or cry, she provides you what you need with such an incredible sense of compassion and love. She inspires me to be a better friend. I asked Leslie to take part in my two questions and these are the answers she gave.

What are you most grateful for?

A place to live in a city that I love, a job that keeps me learning constantly, the people in my life who love me despite my many flaws, patience (not that I have much), my ability to write in a clear and concise way, the many adventures I’ve been on, STARBUCKS, Lolitas, good music, the color red, hot men, laughing so hard it makes my sides hurt, & all the simple joys life has to offer. I’m sure there’s more but with my mind being so scattered lately, I’ll just add “sanity” to my list and keep on moving forward!

Who/What inspires you?

Michael J. Fox for his constant positivity. My grandfather (RIP) for the legacy he left in me. My grandmother for instilling in me some really valuable ideals. Anyone who does something out of the kindness of their heart without seeking recognition (REALLY, not just saying so), positivity as a whole (NO NEGATIVE NANCY’S!!), music with powerful lyrics, every single one of my TRUE friends, any challenge, trips to places I’ve never been (and sometimes to places I HAVE been), New York City, the book The Giving Tree, my boss, and books that envelope you and keep you hooked for hours.

I’m sure there’s more….. but again, we’ll just say “sanity” and keep on moving forward!!

Thank you, Leslie!! I am beyond grateful for the presence you have in my life and for the many memories we have shared and are yet to share!

(Leslie can be found at Lady in Red's Challenge.)

Blog Rec and Blog Advice

The charming Gina over at hiya love posted a great blog this morning, Nurturing your blog 1 (for beginners).

She offers some great advice on how to get your blog started and some key tips on how to make your blog a success.

I think one of the best pieces of advice there is Don't compare yourself to other bloggers/commenters. Emulating another blogger's style will eventually drive you batty as you struggle to keep trying to use their voice instead of your own. Be yourself. You are fabulous as you are!

But I digress....definitely go check out Gina's blog. You will love it!

Oompa Loompa Doopity Dee...

I work with an Oompa Loompa.

She spray tans and is orange. She wears her hair on top of her head in a bun. She often wears a white pantsuit with a bright green shirt. I frequently want to sing the Oompa Loompa song when I see her.

It is the little things that help me get through the work day.

By the way, this is what Roald Dahl drew in his book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" for Oompa Loompas:



Not the creepy ones that starred in the movie with Gene Wilder.

(I liken them to clowns, they give me the creeps!)

I love a holiday!

I love having today off of work, except for the fact that I woke up and thought it was Sunday and was mentally telling myself to get the laundry together and get it started. But then I remembered it was indeed Monday and I had no work. Ah, love it!

I headed off to the movie theater to take in a viewing of "Knight and Day", starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.




It was a cute movie. I definitely recommend seeing it if you want a cute, nonsense movie. Tom Cruise is definitely getting old, but his smile is still charming. (And I can forgive some of his batty behavior in real life when he entertains me.) Cameron Diaz, I have a love/hate relationship with. I both love and hate her for the same thing -- she plays such ditzy characters in most of her roles, but at the same time they are so endearing in an "I feel the same way" way.

I tried to go see "Knight and Day" yesterday, actually. Got in the theater, got my seat, and found out the reel was broken. They gave options - the next showing of the movie was rented out by a church (more on that in a minute), the new reel would be there in 5 hours, "Grown-Ups" had been on for 25 minutes, "Shrek" had been on for 10 minutes, "Twilight: Eclipse" was staring in 10 minutes, or I could get a refund. I am not going to see a movie that is already started and this may be an unpopular opinion, but I am NOT seeing any of the Twilight movies. I took the refund and came back today.

There is a church that rents out one of the auditoriums every Sunday for services. Then as a thank you, I guess, for coming to the service, they get a free movie from the church? That is bizarre to me.

While I find the whole Twilight business to be silly, I did get a laugh when Jen Lancaster decided to stage another Jennsylvania production of Eclipse.
Team Edward, Team Jacob, or Team Take Your Pants Off.

In the literary side of my life, I am reading "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have stalled reading this book for a long time. I have looked at it numerous times since it came out and each time passed on reading it. There is so much hype around the book that I kept telling myself that it wasn't the right time to read it, that this book has a large reputation attached to it and I needed to be able to give it the attention that it deserved. I finally settled down with it and started to read it. I am now getting to a point in the book, towards the end of the "Eat" portion that it is starting to "speak" to me. She brings up thoughts in her head that resonate with thoughts that I have had. But I have to say that overall so far, the hype has done more damage than good. I went in reading this, expecting more than it offers. I said something about it and my friend, Nicole, replied that there was more hype than needed. It is a good and interesting, read, however, and I am finishing it and enjoying it. Not sure what book is up next....

Happy Independence Day!!

Happy 4th of July!! In the midst of your celebrating today, take a moment to thank the brave men and women that have fought and continue to fight to give us the privilege of freedom.

And I give you the greatest President movie speech ever, President Whitmore (Bill Pullman) from "Independence Day". (I get teary eyed every time I hear this speech.)

Thoughts on gratitude and inspiration...

Last year, I was inspired to take on the 365 Days of Gratitude challenge. I thought this was something I could easily handle and it keeps you in a positive frame of mind, ending each day with a list of five things you were grateful for each day. I started out strong, then stumbled and missed a day…then a couple of days…then a week. It quickly changed from being what I was grateful for each day to feeling like a forced chore. I was resenting the fact that I had to justify, to myself, what I was grateful for. I quit the challenge way before 365 days, obviously. It isn’t that I don’t think that is a worthy challenge, I just couldn’t structure myself to do it and felt that I was struggling to come up with something new each day to post.

However I did learn a lesson and this is it – I am grateful every single day for the fact that I am alive and have an opportunity to live and learn. I am grateful for my family and my friends. I am grateful for the beauty that surrounds me. I am grateful for inspiration in its many forms. I am grateful to be me.

As I have been thinking about the direction I wanted to take my blog, I knew that in some way I wanted to keep the gratitude in there, even if it wasn’t going to be done on a daily basis. And the biggest thing I am grateful is inspiration. With that in mind I looked around at those that inspire me and wondered what exactly inspired them, what they were thankful for. And bazinga, there was my way to keep the gratitude flowing. I am going to ask someone different each week to answer two questions for me – What are you most thankful for and what inspires you? Then I will share with you all what they answer. So be prepared, I will be coming to each of you at some point and asking you those two questions.

Last night I asked Shelley to be my guinea pig and test this out. She graciously agreed to go first. So without further ado, let’s get down to it….

Let me offer some insight into my friend, Shelley, and the impact she has had on my life. I met her when she flew to Arizona to spend the weekend with a mutual friend of ours, Karen. I think that the friendship was born immediately and has definitely grown and blossomed over the years. The first thing you will find out about Shell is the fact that she always has your back in a very quiet, laid back way. She keeps it calm and real. I love that. I am hot and cold. Most of the time I am just as laid back, but when I blow up, I blow up. Her talent...oh my, her talent is amazing! She does beautiful scrapbooks and takes amazing pictures. But where she inspires me is the magnitude of her giving. The charity work, the assistance to her family, and all she does for her friends. After talking to her, you will find yourself lifted up because she gives so much of herself to you. I love you and am so thankful that you are my friend, Shelley!



What are you most grateful for?

My friends and family because they keep be grounded, support me and accept me for who I am. Without them, I couldn't make it through each day. Also thankful for my health and for the things that God has blessed me with.

What inspires you?

Michael J Fox ~ Even though he battles MS each and every day, he doesn't let it get him down. While others in his situation, would just give up, the MS gives him a reason to live each day to the fullest. My favorite quote of his is "Happiness is contagious, you can give it out like newspapers and feel it in everything you do".

My Grandpa Keller - He has been dead for close to 10 years but I will never forget how much love and support he always gave me. He worked hard all of his life and never took anything for granted. He always did for others but never asked for anything in return. To know he helped those that needed it was enough thanks for him. He always told me to "Live life to the fullest and have no regrets". I remember that quote every day and try to stick to it.

My friends - they inspire me each day with their friendship and support.

(Shelley can be found at Shellcapades. And a big thank you to you, Shell, for being my guinea pig and the first one to answer my questions! xoxo)