Exciting Times

I have been pretty active on Pinterest, and the funny thing is that I saw a quote on it once and I have been living by it recently. Only, I didn't "pin" or "like" the image, so I can't show it to you now.

But it said something along the lines of "When you find what you are meant to do, you will never run out of energy or imagination to do it."

It spoke to me because I yearned for that sensation in creating my writing business. I don't know why I held onto it for so long, but it wasn't happening. Yes, I have education in training in writing. Yes, I can write. However I have been unable to successfully start a business for myself as a writer. For 10 months I walked around knowing that I had set up my business and I never did anything with it. It never got off the ground floor. Ultimately, something was missing. I didn't feel that extreme excitement that provoked my imagination and energy. I just had a looooooooong list of reasons why I didn't have time to market myself, and therefore, get any work.

And now. Now. An opportunity came across my path and despite my serious reservations about being involved in products sold by direct sales, I have started a new business that has sparked something inside of me that I didn't know was there. Suddenly, I find the energy and I find the imagination to push and build and grow this business. One of my best friends started her own company and she once told me something along the same lines---When you find something you love, watch out! You will be consumed by it.

I found that so hard to believe. And yet, here it is. LuLaRoe by Leah Ruth is my baby and I can not get enough of growing, shaping, exploring, and building our business. I could sit here and analyze it to death, but I won't. It is like I have been called to do it, and I am doing it. Dan is 100% behind me and we are having fun.

Here are some pins that I DID keep over the last year that are so applicable for me now:

Moorea Seal

Do people work really hard and amazing things do NOT happen to them? Sure. But you know what? I also think it is about the energy and intention you put out to the universe. I have had the good fortune of seeing this unfold positively over and over again ever since I left a job that was unhealthy for me and carved out something new. The new job/lifestyle is NOT perfect, but the more I focus on building and working hard at what can be better, I am getting back opportunities and positive interactions. It is tiny and occasional, and I only see it because I am on the look-out for it. (And really, isn't this whole idea all about whether or not we live our lives with the glass half empty/half full? I am living half full as best I can.)

I love this quote that I pinned because it is so against my nature. I do not want to be "vast" ---but I do want to be brilliant. :) I am focusing on this in terms of marketing and sales. I want to reach out to anyone and everyone that I can who would benefit from our products, and that means pushing past my "delicate" persona. I am soft-spoken and shy. This does not work in retail. In fact, I was just telling my boss recently that I have learned to develop an alternate persona when I am at work. I am 100% more talkative. I told her, "I'm like Beyonce," to which she replied "WHAT?" I explained, "Beyonce has a stage persona --Sasha Fierce." My boss laughed and told me she would use my Facebook name at work--Bangs McGee. That would be my persona. Anyway, whether it is me or Bangs McGee, I am being vast and brilliant, outside my comfort zone, and shedding my delicacy. The world of sales has no room for soft-spoken, unsure, delicate people. I try to channel my mother's chatty personality and reserve my father's quiet personality for other occasions. I am really the best blend of both of them. ;)

Design You Trust

In the same breath, let me say that I am not interested in being someone that I am not. I am using the strengths and abilities inside me and bringing certain ones out more than others when appropriate. I really believe that you lose people (friends, clients, customers) the second that you stop being genuine. So I really love this quote because it reminds me that my goal is to be myself---and the best version of myself. And so far, with the support of my husband, that is doing wonders for our business.

I also see these jewels of word wisdom in friends of mine who are exploring their own paths as business owners, whether they are collaborating with companies in direct sales like me or operating their own independent companies.

If you want to learn more about what we are doing, visit our web site LuLaRoe by Leah Ruth. We are also active on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. :)

Cheers to 2014. I am going to be busy.

My Post About Being Busy

Good Lord, things have been BUSY. Since I posted that we had found a house, I can't even begin to describe the level of busy-ness I have been operating at. I still could have found time to write, but I honestly was not making it a priority.

My priority has been keeping my sanity.

Part of maintaining my sanity has been "To Do" lists like this one. The week after we moved, I had four pages like this one (front and back). I had to keep everything organized somehow. By now I can't even make a list. It is too overwhelming. Not because there is even MORE stuff to do, but because I already spent all possible energy and used up all of my superwoman brain cells. There is nothing left. I don't know how or when I get a recharge, but I am hoping it is soon...

Here is what we have been up to...

We celebrated Easter. This involved friends and food, presents in Raine's Easter "nest," bubbles, more food (including cupcakes) and more bubbles.

We went back to Illinois for a visit. There was a lot of playing to be had for Raine with his cousins, and then we had our fair share of food and beverages, and lots of time with friends and family.

We packed a lot for our move. We tried to pack a little bit every day. Raine liked to pack and then unpack, pack, unpack, repeat.

We finalized paperwork on the house and made several trips out catch glimpses as it was built.

We had it inspected and then had a new homeowner orientation with the builder.

We signed a lot of paperwork and closed escrow.

Then on Saturday May, 4th, we moved in!!!

We tried our best to help all pets adjust to the new house. This included training Rocco to use a doggie door. We crossed our fingers that he would use it while we were away at work throughout the week, so we wouldn't have to come home to accidents all over the new hardwood floors and carpet. It took about two weeks until I felt completely comfortable leaving him alone. Now he uses that thing like a BOSS.

Hobbes made some surprising trips to the vet, racking up ridiculously large bills. He had two teeth removed and was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism. He has to eat expensive prescription food now, of course.

Rocco also has had to have some extra vet visits and tests. Most notably in just the last week, he has developed what we believe is Lymphangieasia, which is causing protein to leak out of his intestines. He started medicine yesterday and I am working from home this week to monitor him until we can get him back to the vet on Thursday and have his blood checked again to see where we are at. If he has stabilized on the medicine, there is hope we will have him around a couple more years (as we will continue to treat it with a prescription diet). If he does not stabilize, we will have to help him get more comfortable and say goodbye in the next two to three weeks. We are stunned and sad and nervous.

Immediately after we moved, we spent a week cleaning the crap out of our condo. (This included Mother's Day. However, before Raine went to the baby-sitter and cleaning commenced, I did get to have a groovy little breakfast en plein air with my boys at Henry's Hot Breakfast. And hubby gave me roses. Sigh.)

After listing the condo, we waited for six agonizing weeks to get tenants. Just as I was about to lose my shit, we found them. I just gave them the keys Monday. HALLELUJAH.

In between all of this, I have tried to attempt to baby step my way into tackling major changes with my daily job and special projects, including the business I want to start. The short of it is that nothing much has changed. ;) I am still at the same day job and it is still very stressful and even less ideal now that I live 30 minutes away. My plans to amp up posting and content of this blog has failed, but I did finally gather together my goodies for my side project, snail says. It is in early prep stages and I will not be formally launching it, or making any sort of announcement, necessarily, when it is up and running. The plan is to leak it on Pinterest eventually, when I reach a certain point in the content level (which I think is scheduled for late August or September). LOL. I wish I could tell you more, other than ... It will basically chronicle Dan and I's love letters and creative tokens of affection during our courtship, which was ten years ago this month. This is the only time I will likely mention this project because I want it to happen in a space exclusive of this blog, with it's own organic possibilities.

And, the business. It is forming. I have a P.O. box, email address, and company name with a blog/web site and Twitter account. It is in such early stages I hesitate to share details but if your really want a peek, you can get a glimpse here.

OH. AND AS IF THIS ALL WASN'T ENOUGH. I have also poorly attempted to be a super sister and super daughter and help and/or stay on top of (at least) my mom's medical progress. More about that at another time, because there really is no simple way to recap that.

ABOVE ALL, THOUGH. 

I have been falling in love with our home and our new town, as well as the greater community and county we now live in. I am beside myself with peace and joy having at last found my elusive Oregon roots. They are reaching deep quickly and finding nourishment here. I look forward to what they produce.

The New Job

If you remember correctly, I took a job with the company-whose-name-will-not-be-named back in late February. I worked full-time the week before the store opened, and after that I was only given 4 hours a week. I ended up voluntarily quitting because of the minimal hours, as well as the stressful nature of the job. I had never worked for large corporation with sales goals, upt goals, credit card goals, and conversion goals. It was a lot of goals and I felt like the management was breathing down my neck about it. I also disliked the fact that I had shifts where I was the only associate in the store, expected to greet every customer in the front of the store while setting up dressing rooms in the back of the store, as well as completing register transactions.

To make matters worse, I was instructed to assist every customer with their shopping and after setting up their dressing room add items they did not pick out. It was all to aggressive for me and unmanageable. I might have gave it a longer fair shot, but I felt patronized and unsupported by the manager and assistant managers. I was also expected to dress in the style of the store, which meant I had to by a bunch of new clothes. Especially because they had rules about the outfits. For example, one must wear accessories, dress shoes, nice slacks or jeans, a sweater, or a top with a "third piece." This meant an addition piece with the top such as a blazer or cardigan. I made the mistake of wearing jeans and a sweater (jeans require a top with a third piece) but I was lucky that the assistant manager said it was a first offense and she didn't force me to go home. It wasn't a difficult decision for me to quit.

After that, I got a job at another store-whose-name-will-not-be-named. This position turned out to be the exact same situation with the only difference being I was selling home goods instead of clothing. I just have no interest in upselling customers and following them around, trying to reach my goals just so the store reaches its goals so that the corporation can please its investors. How depressing and meaningless. I was also given only 8 hours a week and was on call for 5 days a week. Seriously? After one day of paperwork and watching safety videos and being quizzed on them, I quit again.

You can imagine how thrilled my husband is with my unsuccesful attempts to bring home a paycheck. It didn't help that I made my exclusive and subjective decisions by myself, or that I was unable to continue getting unemployment benefits.

Sigh.

The day after I had that first day at the 2nd job, I interviewed with Cost Plus World Market and nailed a sales associate job against 9 other interviewees. I participated in a group interview only, and I was wary because one of my fellow applicants had already worked at the store in San Diego. My first day was May 28th and I couldn't be happier. There are some similarities to the previous jobs however the environment is supportive and my fellow coworkers are really great. All of the customers I've had are great, probably because most of them are buying wine. The greatest aspect of the job? You get to wear t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers. I WAS IN LOVE.

If you aren't familiar with the store, it is a national chain offering home decor, bedding and bath, furniture, dining accessories and kitchenware, as well as dry goods, beer, and wine. Everything is imported from over 50 different countries so there are strong ethnic themes in all departments, especially food. I work 18 hours a week at the register, on the floor helping customers, and stocking. For retail, it's great and perfect for me in the sense that there is no pressure or stress.

If you are interested, you can check out the web site here.

Guess What Dan Did Today?

He hung out with his fellow superheroes.

The End of Another Chapter

My darling employers, the owners of Henny Penny, have closed shop. :-( It was time. The store has struggled for a while and they felt now was the time to move onto new things. The current economy certainly has not helped. Closing was very bittersweet...Henny Penny gave me an amazing opportunity to learn about owning a small business from the most creative and fabulous women. I will miss seeing them often, daily trips to the Pearl, working on the web site, ordering inventory and merchandising, and especially seeing fresh designer clothing every season. We announced our closing and clearance sale the Saturday after Christmas and it only took two weeks for customers to wipe out our inventory, fixtures, hangers, and anything else they could get their greedy little hands on. The past two weeks I have worked very hard to make closing as quick and easy as possible for us all, so I have been exhausted and emotionally drained. I am sad to see this chapter of my life end, but I'm optimistic for the future. There are plans in motion and I'm already interviewing for new jobs. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

You can see some photos of the store here...It was such a unique shop!

Holy Circus Babies!

I don't know what else to say. I am both elated and relieved to announce that I have completed my internship with the MU English Department as managing editor and designer of the M Review, our online literary publication. Like all good and hard things that come to an end, I see on the live version that I have a bit more work to do. There are a few snags. Regardless, I am happy to post the link for your reading pleasure. Jay and I collected an unusual bit of material-poetry and fiction-with a tendency toward the surreal and poetic dramatizations of interior moments. (I.E. Quirky, folks.) I have learned much from this experience and I hope that I will find opportunities in the future to work with literary journals.

The fact that M is officially going live tomorrow has become a significant gesture, as we will be gathering together with our English department community of students and teachers to celebrate the life of Jackie Mosier, recent Marylhurst graduate, who lost her battle with breast cancer. At the last minute, I tried to delicately incorporate a dedication in her honor to our 2008 issue. What I came up with is the illustration above, of a dove and flowers. I hope that people realize it is a dove. Does it look like a dove? It's kind of chubby.

Jackie had a zest for reading and writing, really good interprative and analytical skills, and opened her home again and again to our community for celebrations and hosting visiting authors. She leaves behind two adorable dogs and a husband, as well as an inspiring work ethic and creativity.

Week of Ups and Downs

Well, mostly downs. The job hunt has been stressful and unfruitful. I'm grasping at anything at this point...About ready to apply at the gas station as long as they have benefits. I've also had a tough time with my depression...Which hasn't been easy but has lead me to believe that the medication I have been on a long time may not be doing the job anymore. I had two doctor visits, which always stress me out the night before, but in the end they were good. Dr. G. is supportive of baby-making in good time and gave me a time-table to work with, and he also recommended a fabulous psychiatry clinic in Beaverton where I can start to work with someone specifically on my anti-depressant medication instead of with a general practice doctor. It has also been a year since I was seeing someone in therapy, and I've learned in this time that I need to have that. Today I had blood drawn and even though that stresses me out, my day was brightened by the adorable man-nurse with dreads and a great sense of humor. He took really good care of me and I can't wait to see him next time. ;-) I've also been struggling with a major bout of insomnia this week, which hasn't helped my Fibromyalgia or Depression. What it has done is fired brain cells. I have gained knowledge regarding the major flea markets in the country and a special chateau in North Carolina, learned more from Pastor Scott (anyone who is awake at 2 in the morning is familiar with this Biblical scholar) and thanks to the Discovery Channel's Shark Week, I have come to understand the nuances of all American shark breeds and their locations, as well as South African Great Whites and Tiger sharks, the crazy experts that dive and swim along with them, and the not-so-wonderful stories of six people who have survived being eaten alive. I LOVE SHARK WEEK!

Anyway, tonight I was particularly frustrated after an entire day of rejections and employment trails that lead nowhere, but I had a wonderful massage and now I'm watching the results show of So You Think You Can Dance (or as we like to call it "So You Think You Have Pants"), with a whiskey and coke my hubby mixed, awaiting the fabulous bean and egg burritos he is preparing, and the lovely booger also pulled up six new job listings for me to look at while I was away earlier. I love my hubby. He takes such good care of me!

P.S. If you are in the greater Portland area and reading this and have the knowledge of a fabulous job for me, please let me know. ;-)

I Graduated...Now What?

I have been posed this question many times. In fact, as I stood in line before the graduation ceremony, a fellow classmate asked a group of us if we had any plans after graduation. I replied, "I'm throwing a party." They all laughed because he meant in life, not for just that afternoon. Still, I reiterated my plan: "I'm throwing a party." It took me 10 years to get to that point, so I was interested in enjoying the moment.

First on my list post-degree is to find a new job. I don't necessarily want something to do with my degree because my work history and experience is related to customer service, not English. Honestly, now that I am free to work full time, I'm keen on finding a job avec benefits. I about fainted when I realized recently that companies sometimes pay their employees' insurance premiums. (Wha-?) All this time I thought Dan had payments taken out of his paychecks, but nope! THEY PAY! So I'd like to find myself a situation like that, preferably with a shorter commute than the one I make now.

Second on my list is to continue to do the things that I like to do: writing, reading, finding new music, blogging, playing with my dog and cat, loving every moment with hubby. I like enjoying these thing without the dreaded thought at the back of my mind that I have homework to do. I also feel like blogging for fmsNest and working on my screenplay are creative outlets with potential for financial support if I really apply myself.

Third on my list is to research graduate school programs. As much as I enjoy the before-said freedom of consciousness, I also miss learning! I do not feel like I am done. I also never could have anticipated the way that I would feel after graduating--how confident and excited I feel about the future. As I bask in my glowing pride, I am constantly going back to the sources of my passion for education...Those teachers I thanked in a previous post. Primarily, I think about the women that inspired me with their beautiful and gracious yet precarious balance of teaching, scholarly study, family, and personal growth.

I decided to look into graduate programs in Art History or Theology, academic areas I am most passionate about and would honestly love to teach. As of today, I have no Art History options in the Portland area, so I'm researching a Theology degree at George Fox. Now, I've heard they are quite conservative, and I'm not sure I am the perfect fit for an Evangelical Seminary, but I'm up for finding out more. Next week I'll be sitting in on a class and meeting the faculty to feel out whether or not I want to apply. If it's meant to be, it will be.

Urban Nursery in Chicago?

Dan had a poop-tastic day at work and upon arriving home, he eagerly opened up his first informational mailing from a nursing school-Lakeview College. We learned that, not unlike all other nursing programs, Lakeview's second degree program will only accept former coursework completed within the past five years, and Dan graduated from ISU long before 2003. When he read this, his face looked like a deflated balloon. I'm wondering, Does this small hitch really matter? If Dan has to repeat Chemistry and other necessary prerequisite courses, wouldn't it be worth it in the long run? Accelerated nursing programs only take two semesters, and a semester or two of prerequisites would only tack on another year, right?

But Dan is disheartened, and I don't blame him. Something must be said for having acquired two degrees and facing getting yet another one.

His first degree, in Education/Biology, prepared him for teaching. He spent one year as Mr. Herzing at a high school in Bloomington, IL, and promptly moved back in with his parents and went back to school for his horticulture degree. He was interested in plants and had an intuitive and creative side that perked his interest in design. But Dan never pursued a design path in the landscaping business. Because he's good at anything he does, he's moved up the ladder into a top area manager at a local landscape company, dealing with customer service and sales.

Dan abandoned teaching partially because he was young and disinterested in a real job, but mostly because he didn't especially like teaching teenagers. He has detested his work in the landscape industry because he works too many hours and deals with adult customers who act like teenagers. Dan is stuck in customer service hell and his creative instinct and passion for plants isn't a part of his work.

My proposal? (And Dan is mulling this over...) We start our own business. I've been telling him this for years. I've always wanted my own store or business, but the concept has always scared Dan. But I say to him: You can take care of plants. You can design. I'll handle the rest. What I envision is something along the lines of Pistils Nursery in Portland. There used to be a company in Seattle, Urban Mulch, featured in an article here, that focused on urban residential potting, but I can't seem to find them online. My plan involves setting up shop (or online shop) in Chicago, which means we'd head back to the Windy City. I honestly can't say I have ever been interested in moving back to Chicago, but the thought of this business is nestled in Chicago for whatever reason. And I believe we are meant to have a business like this. It is perfect for the both of us. Can anyone in Chicago tell me if there are similar businesses? Check out Pistils Nursery and let me know...! I'm inspired and ambitious...Is there any better combination?

At Work

Wifey:

Hubby:

(Special occasion shmoozing)

Memorial Day Lists

Apparently, everyone in the world had Memorial Day off of work except for me. Hmph. Well, I do realize it is a bit of a retail holiday, so I guess I understand. It actually turned out beneficial because Henny Penny was quiet, so I was able to tackle my list of to-dos that have piled up since we got back from vacation. On said list:

1. Print and cut 200 pamphlets for In Good Taste, Megan's dinner delivery business.
2. Print and cut birth announcements of Logan for my sister.
   
3. Finish reading submissions for M Review.
4. Edit accepted submissions for M Review.
5. Find yummy vegetarian recipes for this week's meal plan and make grocery list.
   
6. Organize and update my medical binder (recent doc visit before and after our trip rearranged my medications.)
7. Plan itinerary for Allyson's visit in three weeks.
8. Plan menu and details for graduation party, June 21st.
9. Research nursing schools for Dan.
10. Update blog.

I managed to check 3 items off my list, and they were #5, #9, and #10.

#5)

1. Grilled cheese sandwiches with sauerkraut on rye (um, sounded good, but why did I think I'd like it? I had a grilled peanut butter instead...)
2. Pesto tortellini with garlic and olive oil (dressed up with cheese and hot giaridiniera for Dan)
3. Chipotle bean tostadas
4. Chickpea and tomato salad
5. Spinach and orzo salad

#10) It felt good to write about Illinois, because it's something that I am constantly thinking about but find it hard to explain. (One of the reasons Dan and I fell in love with each other and clicked so well was because we both could communicate exponentially better by writing than talking, and our courtship before I moved to Chicago was essentially composed of long e-mails.)

#9) Fortunately, I found All Nursing Schools, a nifty little web site that makes it super easy to find programs anywhere in the country. However, I didn't anticipate the small amount of schools that offer second degree programs. Dan already has a BS in Biology, so ideally we want him to be able to build off of rather than start from scratch getting an Associates for RN, then doing an RN-BSN track, which would take longer and cost more money. Unfortunately, Dan's hopes for trying schooling here in Oregon (and then getting a job wherever we would move to) were thwarted by the fact that there are no programs that accommodate this situation. The results in other geographical areas of interest were:

1. University of Northern Colorado School of Nursing in Greeley, Colorado
2. Colorado State University School of Nursing in Pueblo, Colorado
3. University of New Mexico College of Nursing in Albuquerque, New Mexico
4. University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing in Columbia, Missouri
5. Lakeview College of Nursing in Danville, Illinois
6. Spalding University School of Nursing in Louisville, Kentucky
7. University of Louisville School of Nursing
8. Northern Kentucky University School of Nursing and Health Professions in Highland Heights, Kentucky
9. University of Kentucky College of Nursing in Lexington, Kentucky
10. East Tennessee State University College of Nursing in Johnson City, Tennessee
11. Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing in Charlotte, South Carolina

Whew! It's not much but it certainly narrows things down! (It's both exciting and bizarre to think we will be living in one of these cities.) We'll have to keep our fingers crossed as we continue to research because most of these schools are highly competitive and getting Dan into a program isn't going to be as easy as I thought it would be.

It's funny I did all that research for Dan, because when I got home from work, I found he had spent his day cleaning for me. What a sweetheart. (I told him to take a nap!) Dan's hard work included:

1. Vacuuming carpet
2. Sweeping and mopping floors
3. Cleaning toilets
4. Laundry
5. Cleaning garbage baskets and taking out garbage
6. Dishes and cleaning kitchen
7. Cleaning porch
8. Making bed
9. De-clogging drains in showers and sinks
10. Taking bottles to recycling at the store
11. Washing and cleaning out car
12. Cleaning out litter box
13. Cleaning and reorganizing kitchen drawers

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

I didn't make it to the library today until, um, 4? Because I slept in until, um, 2? I have such a generous husband. Because the library closes at 6 on Saturdays, I had to move to Starbucks, which enabled me to get in a mere four hours of writing for my rough draft on my senior thesis ("The Craft of Sound and Image in Denise Levertov's Poetry.") A whole other mistake was the consumption of two mocha lattes. This explains why I am awake at 2:30 a.m. Here I sit, at the laptop in the living room, with Hobbes asleep in my lap and the sound of Dan's snoring drifting down the hallway. The thump of the music at the neighbor's apartment has subsided and instead of working on my papers, I decided to redesign this blog. While I was digging through our image library for a new ::kiss:: photo, I found this shot taken during my first year at Marylhurst. It must have been spring, so that would have been just about three years ago. Wow. And now I am two weeks away from finishing. I can't help but feel nostalgic in addition to my excitement. How I have adored that campus! It's so beautiful and quiet. How I have learned so much and met wonderful people! I'm glad that I will be around next semester while I help with the literary journal, M Review. (No class or credits, just the experience of being student editor!) So far, it has only occupied me with busy work--organizing the hundreds of submissions and passing them onto staff members to review. In a few weeks I will begin reading and assessing what student work I would like to accept. In the meantime, I'm also working on a submission myself, for a Writer's Institute in New York. The English faculty at MU nominated me for a full scholarship to their 2-4 week summer program, so I'm giving it a go and applying. Dan has been helping me select material to submit, and I can't help but hope that I will get accepted! I guess this is what I have to get used to now that I'm graduating...The post-collegiate life of craft / submit / get denied / try again / craft / submit / etc. Of course, I already have my mind on many other projects that I am eager to get started on once I have more free time. FMS Nest has been progressing ever-so-slowly, and I'd like to devote more time to that this spring. What I have noticed as I began writing the blog is that at this point, it is limited to my experience with fibromyalgia. There is so much more I want write about in terms of my health, but what do I do? Start a blog for each of my conditions? Is there a way to combine writing about fibromyalgia, depression, pcos, et al., on this site? Or should I change the name of FMS Nest and incorporate all of my health issues, thoughts, and experiences on that? Does anyone have any ideas? Help! Well, I just heard the paper boy. I guess I better sign off and try to go to sleep before I get started on this project and stay up the rest of the night. Hope you enjoy the new design and features. There'll be more to come...! xoxo

What's On Your Fridge?

Congratulations to My Hubby! He is officially a Certified Landscape Technician and now, a Certified Landscape Professional! Aside from the co-owners of Dan's company, he is the only employee certified, as well as one of 30-40 professionals in the state of Oregon!

I'm Addicted to School

This week I begin classes for the first term of my last year at Marylhurst. I am now officially 15 credits away from my degree in English Literature & Writing. (What do I plan to do with it when I am done? Write.)

To make things interesting, I have also begun the daunting, expensive, and tedious task of working on graduate school applications. and I will be sharing details about this process along the way. Oh yes. Graduate school. Because, apparently, I am NOT satisfied with already spending 10 years on schooling. I WANT MORE.

Applying really is a major undertaking, which is why I spread out my final credits at MU over two terms--so that I would have time for this. And serving as managing editor of M Review this year. (But that's another story.)

Anyway, here is the preliminary list of schools from which I have sought information and application packets, and let me know if you have any other suggestions because this is only 7 and I need between 8 and 10 to increase my chances!!!

Low Residency Schools (Only required to attend 10-12 days seminars on campus twice a year, while the rest of the work is done in correspondence with an adviser from home.)
Antioch University (L.A.)
Bennington College (Vermont)
Goddard College (Port Townshend, WA campus)
Naropa University (Colorado)
Spalding University (Louisville)
Warren Wilson College (North Carolina)

Full Residency (And this means we'd be packing our things and moving back across the country....)
University of Iowa (Iowa Writers' Workshop...Only the most prestigious program IN the country!)

Henny Penny Blog

Hey everyone...Got a second? Check out my new blog for the store, here. I am getting ready to launch it anyday now, but I could use a few more sets of eyes. Any typos? Weird links? Something look funny? Or is it...PERFECTION.

I'd appreciate any feedback! Thanks!

Screenwriting 101

Last week I took Screenwriting at Marylhurst--my final writing elective--because I wanted to try something different. And it's TOTALLY different. It's all about plugging a plot into a formula, and peppering it with good dialogue. It's completely counter-intuitive to how I write poetry and short stories, which is usually based on a feeling, followed by descriptive prose and random playing with the music of language. Needless to say, I was off to a rough start because I have never been plot-oriented. My first storyboard received a resounding BORRRRIIIIINNNG. I had a protagonist with no real challenge to overcome, and a film that my teacher (screenwriter Cynthia Whitcomb) described as so boring that not only would nobody pay to see it, no studio in their right mind would pay millions to MAKE it. I was hurt because it was a coming-of-age story based on an experience I had traveling in high school. Apparently, the moments in my life that I thought were ripe for the screenwriting-picking are NOT that interesting. So Dan and I came up with a new storyboard, a psychological thriller full of suspense and challenge for the protagonist, creepy subplots, and a twist at the end. And AGAIN, Cynthia felt I had a long way to go: It just wasn't exciting enough. Now I've come up with another idea--a romantic comedy. Dan starts snoring every time I talk about it, but I think it has potential! I'm telling you all of this now so that when I sell my script, and pay off all of my student loans and the mortgage with the check, you will all be able to rejoice with me as I tell him "I Told You So!"

Speaking of Small Businesses...

The following are several links to new independent businesses I've discovered here in the Pearl. There's really no limit to how creative people can be when it comes to their 9-5...

• While I was waiting in line at the bank, a foursome of fresh-faced sweet little kids were sitting on the couches while their dad spoke with the teller. One girl held a stuffed kitten and stared at the flat screen TV showing the news on Wall Street, a toddler hung upside down in his chair, and another boy and girl (they looked the oldest) shared a chair with her arm around his shoulders. Eventually the toddler grew restless and ran over to his daddy, asking him to hang him upside down. The daddy promptly swung the little guy over his shoulder, and the boy shrieked in glee. When he walked over to collect the other kids before leaving, he jokingly asked if they had learned anything about the stock market. He was relaxed, handsome, and young, so that must be where the kids got it. After I left the bank and headed outside, I passed Jamison Park where toddlers in swimsuits were playing in the fountain and saw the dad from the bank careen by on a bike, pulling a carriage behind him with little heads bobbing and hands sticking out. I was impressed. How many people bike their four kids around the city? As they passed by me, I read a sign on the back of the carriage: PDX PEDICAB.


• Last week, a few hours before I had to close up shop, a cheerful young woman came in carrying a plate full of miniature cupcakes. Cupcake Jones, formerly known as BabyCakes, was finally opening its doors the following day. I relished three tiny vanilla cakes with light creme & strawberry slices before I realized I better step. away. from. the. cupcakes. (The next several customers that came in gladly helped me clear the plate.)


• Of course one of my dreams is to have my own boutique, and if I wasn't so obsessed with fashion for kids, I'd love to have a store full of toys. Everyday it would remind me how important play is! The Pearl's new toy store, Green Frog Toys, is full of a fantastic selection for kids NB-10+ The last time I stopped in, I left with a few stuffed animals for the stockpile, which Dan promptly named for futurebaby:

Leah's Dad, Her Hero

Several years back, Leah's dad asked her to help him design a logo for himself for business cards. He was doing some mowing and handyman work for his sisters and their neighbors, and before he knew it, he had everyone calling and asking him for estimates on jobs-everything from drywall to landscaping. In what seems like the blink of an eye, her dad had what she has always dreamt of: his own business. This photo shows his logo on his new truck, a beheamoth red Silverado, complete with a trailer and snow plow attachment. Look out Illinois!