Friday, February 18, 2011

Not Resolutions.... Goals

I have some goals in mind for this year and I'd like to put them down somewhere. I know Alicia will try to encourage and keep me honest and I also feel like, somehow just by making it "a real thing" it helps encourage me.

I'll add to this list as things change or evolve and I'll come back and mark things off as they happen (if it's that kind of goal). These are all in no particular order except the order in which I thought of them. Hierarchy is for LOSERS - (or people who are simply far more mentally organized than I am).

1. Totally and completely quit smoking instead of this lame fits and starts crap.
2. Actually pick up my bass and stop being scared of it.
3. Play more games of the board variety.
4. Buy and use a sewing machine
5. Make the things I think of more often than not. Okay... even once in awhile.
6. Exercise daily - even if that's 15 minutes of a kinect game. It's something.
7. Body maintenance is its own reward. Eye doctor, dentist, etc. - they need to be visited.
8. Pick colors, pick accessories, paint paint paint.
9. Finish the bathroom by March 31st.
10. Decorate the skeleton for EVERY holiday. All of them. No excuses.
11. - in that vein... make a stove pipe hat for President's Day on Monday. You have all weekend. Make it happen.
12. RECORD THE MOVIES YOU WATCH. You watch so many movies and you never remember what you've seen. Just WRITE IT DOWN.

and uh ... more as I think of them. Yeah. Or others.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

So what's that name about?

"The Laughing One" is an alternate name I use online sometimes when my "usual" names or desired names are taken. For instance, someone took "Plate O Shrimp" on Blogger, posted 5 pieces of gibberish, some repeatedly, and then peaced on it sometime in 2003. And "Plate Of Shrimp" just doesn't really work for that reference (the reference in question) so ANOTHER NAME IT IS.

A few years ago, my husband, Karl, and I went to see Episode 2. The theater was packed and we got in a little late. We ended up sitting in the very first row off to one side of the theater next to an entire Indian family. Grandparents, parents, kids of varying ages - the whole family. And for most of the movie I held in my sneers and rolled my eyes away from them. But when the movie gets to the "rolling around in the grass and saying ridiculous things to each other because this is what George Lucas thinks love looks like" part - I just lost it. I spent the next 20 minutes nearly choking myself trying to keep the quavering, soul wracking laughter in. The Indian family noticed. I noticed that they noticed. Shame could not stop the laughing.

When the movie was over, I headed to the overcrowded bathroom and waited in line. And of course, who was in front of me but the matriarch of the Indian family. For awhile she didn't notice. But just before a stall opened up for her she happened to glance back at me and she recognized the asshole who ruined her family movie night. She admonished me with one finger wagging by saying "You're the laughing one." I nodded at her. Yes, that was me. She shook her head, sucked her teeth, and made the most haughty and dignified entrance into a public restroom stall that has ever been witnessed.

And I was The Laughing One. And I still am. And I probably always will be.

I decided to cave in and create a blog because, while I've used online outlets for writing for years in varying degrees and with various levels of attention, I have never really put much care into it. I've also come to realize that, though I have an amazing husband, wonderful critters, and some great friends who I just love to pieces, I often employ a kind of deferred path to fulfillment and the detours are just getting longer and longer. I love creating, nurturing, serving, and empowering the people around me. It really does fill some spot for me. And while I don't think the fulfillment is diminishing, maybe the spot it needs to fill is growing.

Recently I've decided to just get the house into shape to sell. Which means painting and projects and finally tackling all the "some day" items on my mental lists. I know those accomplishments, small though they may be to some, are incredibly satisfying for me.

And maybe this is my way of being accountable to myself and rewarding myself.We'll see. No promises for what this will turn into.