The thinking gal’s guide to the weekend

and maybe some chocolate. TGIF!

My space

Not to be confused with MySpace, which I don’t care for. I love blogs, podcasts, YouTube … all social media really except for MySpace. Probably an age thing. And yet you see how I was still compelled to hyperlink it? Things that make you go hmmmm.

And still more hmmmm’ing … this post was intended to be a quick one. Just a glimpse of my view as I work, which I find particularly charming today. And really, what better reason for a blog post?

But now I’m stuck on the MySpace thing, which reminds me to tell you about Scott. I was at MySpace today during an Internet Field Trip to check out all the ways this guy named Scott who wears a nametag that says, Hello my name is Scott, promotes himself, his books and his speaking gigs. He’s funny and clever. Check him out.

Now for my next trick

Little fabric holders to stow half-size index cards.

(My model needs her nails cleaned!) I found these half-size cards at Office Depot on Friday and was immediately inspired to get out the fabric. Now you may be wondering why the excitement over half-size index cards and why in the world they need fabric holders. Well, my lecture-attending, note-taking days may be long past but the index card is just the thing to have on the go, should you want to write something down. An item for the grocery list. A reminder to call the dentist. A phrase overheard that would make the perfect short story title. They are very light and quite convenient. And the half-size is even lighter and that much more convenient. Not to mention cute, cute, cute!

Alas, the poor things don’t hold up well to travel. They tend to fall to the bottom of the purse or backpack. The corners bend, they get dirty and sad. And one ends up tossing cards before they’ve served their purpose: to record your brilliant ideas.

Enter the fabric holder. It’s colorful so you can find your cards before the elusive thought flees your mind. It’s compact so you don’t add bulk to your bag. It’s washable so it can always be clean. Now that’s snappy!

In the moment #2

An excerpt from Crazybusy by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. is keeping my thoughts focused on balance and being present, fighting the habit of doing too many things at once.

“The best reason to take your time is that this time is the only time you’ll ever have. You must take it, or it will be taken from you. It is telling that the phrase “taking your time” is synonymous with slowing down. If we want to live life fully, we do best to slow down. I don’t suggest that we turn back the clock, trying to retrieve a bygone era when life was slower. We couldn’t, even if we wanted to. But I don’t believe we should want to. We should revel in our electronically supercharged, unbounded world. But, to make the most out of this new world, to avoid feeling overbooked, overstretched, and about to snap, to make modern life become better than life has ever been, a person must learn how to do what matters most first. Otherwise, you will bulldoze over life’s best moments. You won’t notice the little charms that adorn each day, nor will you ever transform the mundane into the extraordinary.”

Exactly.

Clipping service

As Sage and I were talking today, I tried to recall what article in what magazine I’d recently read about all the easy ways to recycle, save energy, etc. I couldn’t and complained that I was currently surrounded by too many magazines of which I’ve just read bits and pieces. And then I realized this was a good thing because I could update my clipping files. And Sage asked what clipping files. And I explained my system for keeping information and inspiration I pull from magazines. And she said please send me pictures. So I did. And then she said, oh you have to blog about this. So I am.

I began this system years back because I’m just not one to keep 20 years’ of magazine issues under my bed. Plus I don’t have the patience to cull through the stacks to find that one thing on that great topic by that fab author each time I’m looking for one thing on a great topic by a fab author.

So I pull what I want and recycle the rest of the magazine. The pages I pull go into clear plastic presentation books by Kokuyo (a readily available supply store item), which are organized by category.

I have books for gift ideas, holiday, decorating, parties/table settings, inspiration, health and crafts. I just tuck the pages inside the sleeves and presto! A mini magazine of my own making that’s easy to find and use.

In the moment

“It was a lesson I hoped to learn in the months ahead: how to stop rushing from place to place, always looking ahead to the next thing while the moment in front of me slipped away unnoticed.”

Alice Steinbach, Without Reservations

Just blew in from the Windy City

Chicago is one of my favorite places.

The lake. The architecture. Shopping on Michigan Avenue. I love the San Francisco meets New York feel in this gorgeous place where it’s easy to hail a cab. And I love it because my little sister … who I still think of as in the 4th grade despite the fact that she’s a hot-shot mergers and acquisitions attorney … lives there. It’s been a few years since I’ve visited and the first time I brought K. It was a fabulous adventure.

I’m not, I must admit, a very good traveler. I worry, I obsess, I spend hours making lists. This time ’round, with K in tow and laptop (my second brain) packed, I had not a care in the world. The time difference didn’t trip us up at all … we hit the ground running with dinner at Quartino where the wine is cheaper than the bottled water! And then after dinner drinks at the top of the Hancock. 96 floors up at night is the perfect time for a Shirley Temple.

We hung out with these two Beluga whales (mama and baby) at the Shedd Aquarium.

And we met Sue.

Sue is the largest T-Rex skeleton unearthed to date. Her head is too heavy — 600 pounds — for the skeleton to support it, so it’s kept in a separate case.

The Field Museum blew our socks off. Aunt Shell and I were as enthralled as K at the skeletons and stories of each era through current time. The new Evolving Planet exhibit was incredible. It takes visitors through each era and mass extinction. And you know what? We are currently in the 6th mass extinction. That’s right. A display on the wall told us that, since 8 a.m. that morning, 33 species had become extinct. Because of pollution, waste, irresponsible consumerism. Right then and there I decided to up my conservation efforts. Beyond recycling, I’ve decided to do away with paper towels. I can use dish towels. Since I have a very small, European efficient washer and dryer, washing the dish towels won’t cause more harm. I remembered to bring my own bags to Trader Joe’s yesterday. And I’m looking for more opportunities. Because we don’t really want to end up like this, do we?

The things she says

The same six-year-old who advises, chin up and charge the mountain, provides an endless stream of commentary that is sometimes so adult it’s hard to believe the source is just four feet tall.

The Realist

K: Zander is my best friend. And I’m his.

Me: Yeah?

K: Yeah but Zander doesn’t like to admit it because I’m a girl. But that’s OK, I know how he real feels.

The Negotiator

Me: It’s time to wrap it up and get your PJs on.

K: You know, now that I’m a little older, I think I should stay up a little later.

Me: Oh, you do? Well maybe on Friday and Saturday when you don’t have school the next day.

K: OK, so I can stay up as long as I want as long as it’s not too long?

The Smartypants

K: Did you know that elephant starts with P?

Me: Well, you’re right that there is a “p” in elephant but it’s not the first letter.

K: Sure it is. Pachyderm starts with P and pachyderm is another word for elephant.

Me: Wow.

The Pragmatist

Me: oops! You’ve got ice cream all over your face.

K: (enjoying her ice cream cone) Oh, that’s OK. It’s the natural look when you’re eating ice cream.

The Teenager

Me: How was the field trip to Wild Care?

K: Great.

Me: What did you see?

K: Pelicans. A polar bear that was sick.

Me: Did you see any cows?

K: (with dramatic roll of eyes) Mom, we went to WildCare. Wild. Care. Get it?

I never look back darling …

… it distracts from the now. Best advice ever, even if the source is a fictional, diminutive figure named Edna Mode.

My next favorite piece of advice I just learned from my daughter: chin up and charge the mountain. She tells me that that’s what she says to “her team” when they play soccer during PE. Now she’s all of 6-years-old, and is clearly going to surpass me at any second. Wait, there she goes now!

Disappearing act

10 days later and here’s what I have to tell you … what I had for lunch. But it comes with a story so it might be worth sticking with me for a few more seconds. I was in town today … wait, sidebar. Doesn’t “in town” make it sound like I live out on the prairie? I don’t really but I do live in a town so we do say “in town” which is all of 5 minutes away from the house.

Back to the lunch story. Many copies needed to be made and FedEx packages sent today. So after doing all that, I stopped into the cafe to grab a sandwich to go. Being that it’s Good Friday and that I was brought up Catholic (though you’d hardly know it today), I ordered tuna. The no meat on Fridays during Lent rule has been hardwired into me.

Back home, I unwrapped my sandwich and found a BLT. I laughed so hard. So much for being a good Catholic. I savored every bite. I hope whomever got my tuna was just as happy.