The World According to Angie

Thank God you're here, 2011!

Happy New Year! I can't begin tell you how glad relieved stinkin' thrilled I am to say goodbye to 2010. It's been a rough one for a whole host of reasons I won't detail here on my blog.

In fact, my blog is a good indicator - when I stop blogging, there's big, bad stuff going on that I can't talk about. So when you look at my blog posts and see I made one on January 12, 2010 and the next one came in September ... well, that says a lot about what kind of year it was.

But that's all behind us now, right? Because we've turned both the proverbial and literal page as the calendar flips over to 2011. And I know in my heart of hearts that this year is going to be an awesome one.

No matter how tempted I am to say, "Because it darn sure can't get much worse than last year," I'm not gonna do it... because I know that's just tempting fate. God has a sense of humor, and he won't give you more than you can handle, but don't pray for patience because he will test yours. I know, 'cause I've seen him do it.

I know 2011 is going to be a better year than 2010 because I've learned so much from the year that's past.

I've learned...

• God is in absolute control of my life. My stress level will be much, much easier to handle if I recognize those things I can affect (like how well I treat my husband) and just give up the illusion I control other things (like, whether I'm going to lose my job). God's driving that particular bus ... Ultimately, it's the Serenity prayer, right? God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
   
• I'm married to one of the most amazing men on this planet. Yes, he's imperfect ... but with every one of those imperfections, he's perfectly matched for me. I can't imagine any other man would have stood by my side through everything that happened this year. We've weathered one hell of a storm, and come out the other side. I count every day I get with my Jim as the greatest blessing, and he makes me want to be a better woman, a better person, a better wife, a better partner.
   
• I've got an exceptionally cool stepdaughter. I'm fortunate I was able to forge a relationship with Veronica in her late childhood or 'tween stage, before the teenage thing happened. Because now that she's there, I can see it would have been much, much more challenging. But with the foundation we build when she was 11 and 12, now that she's 14 (choke!) it's evolved into a pretty cool relationship. I've learned that I need to devote one-on-one time to V, separate from her dad, so she can talk to me about girl stuff. Because she does. It's not only cool to be another adult she trusts with the important stuff, it's a big responsibility.
   
• I need to make time for family. Not the ones I live with day-to-day, although that's important, and Jim and I plan to re-institute date-nights on a monthly basis this year ... I'm talking about my mom & dad, and my brother and sister-in-law and their beautiful daughters. I do a good job of staying in touch by phone, but this year, I need to see them in person more often. Mom & Dad are about 5 hours away by car, and Jim & Heather are about 8 hours away, so it's not like I absolutely have to climb on a plane to see them. This year, I need to make the time to be there in person for my family.
   
• It's time to see a neurologist. Actually, it's long past time. I've been allowing Internal Medicine docs to treat my migraines for over 20 years, and the best we've been able to do is "mostly" control them. So in early December, I finally saw a neurologist, and he put the pieces together - not only for my migraines, but also for my fibromyalgia - and we begin treatment on January 4th. I haven't talked much about my fibro, but it's time to share a little ... and that's something I'll be doing here on my blog as the treatment begins. If I don't take care of my fixing what's wrong with my body, I won't be able to do anything else well. ANYTHING.
   
• Finally ... I live with a lot of stress. Much of it comes from my job - the nature of the beast - and the rest of it is just my personality. I take stress on myself, and when stress doesn't exist, I will manufacture it. Yeah, I know, that's sick ... and silly ... but it is what it is. Part of the self-awareness I've gained in my 30's is an understanding (and acceptance) of not just who I am, but how I work. Anyway ... I absolutely must take specific steps to burn off my stress each and every day, or it will eat me alive. I've learned there are two things that work for me - exercise and creativity. So, I have to move my body and my brain in ways that feel like play.

I'm not doing resolutions this year.

Resolutions get broken, and then you feel like a failure. Instead, I've got lessons I learned in 2010, and I'm simply going to apply what I learned in 2011 to make it a better year.

I am, however, participating in a project I've done for several years running: Ali Edwards' One Little Word. It involves choosing a word to be your guide, your focus, for the coming year. In 2008, I used balance. In 2009, I used invest. In 2010, I used health (which sort of backfired on me).

This year, Ali has developed a 12-month class she's offering through Big Picture Classes called, of course, One Little Word. I've signed up to take the class, and I'm ridiculously excited about the structure, about the ideas, about the inspiration she's providing to keep us focused on our chosen word throughout the year.

For 2011, my word is listen.

I'll blog all about it in another post.

To borrow a phrase from Audrey Reed (who is taking the One Little Word class with me!) I am so stinkin' excited to see 2010 in the rearview mirror. I resolve to listen more in 2011, to take the lessons I learned in 2010 and as the bumps and bruises and scrapes begin to heal, to apply what I learned to make this new year a thing of beauty.

Welcome, 2011!

Santa's Comin' to Town ... on a motorcycle?

At the end of November, I wrote about the new additions to our Christmas yard decorations. Well, after nights spent in front of the TV with acrylic paints and the most detailed pattern ever known to man, the piece de resistance is finally done:

Yes - you're seeing that right - it's Santa Claus on a motorcycle.  When I shot this photo, the varnish was drying... which is why he's leaning against the back of our house ... but he'll get added to the front yard today when I get home from work.

I was totally stressing out about painting his face - I was afraid I'd screw it up, and it'd look all wonky...

...but I'm pretty pleased with the way that turned out. It's ALL THOSE BLASTED TOYS in the sidecar that made it so stinkin' complicated.  So, in honor of "learning from our experiences", here's my Top 5 List of what this project taught me:

5. It will always take longer than you think.

4. It doesn't do you much good to transfer the entire pattern at once ... after all, you'll be covering up all the detail lines with the first base coat of paint. Dummy.

3. Metallic acrylic paint will require at least 3 coats, even if the wood is already primed. It's thick and gooey and needs a lot of layers to dry evenly.

2. Metallic acrylic paint looks really good. So it's worth the hassle.

1. Morkies don't understand the concept of wet paint. All they know is their mama's busy, and gee, if I jump up on this couch here, then I can jump on the table, walk across this wood thing, and jump into her arms... Yikes!

A big thanks to my Dad for cutting everything out for me, and a huge thanks to my husband for putting up with the art supplies in the living room for weeks on end. I promise - no more painting this year.

Now, as for next year, that's a whole 'nother story...

Taking after my father

My Dad is what some people might call "a little bit obsessed with Christmas". I've blogged about his Yuletide yard displays in years past ... but it turns out I take after my Dad - just a little bit.

Last year, thanks to his awesome woodworking skills, we added a nativity scene to our front yard. It's a pretty silhouette showing Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in the manger. Nothing too fancy, or too overboard ... just enough to show some Christmas spirit.

Well, earlier this year, I happened to be looking through one of my Dad's pattern books, and two of them caught my eye. Next thing I know, he's ordered them, cut them, and primed the wood for me to paint.

May I introduce the first of two new pieces for our yard this year: the pathetic snowman.

I finished the painting last night, and applied a coat of outdoor varnish. He'll make his debut in our yard a little later this week.

In the meanwhile, I've got a MAJOR project ahead of me ... painting the SIX FOOT TALL Santa on a  motorcycle. (Yeah, I'm not kidding... SIX FEET TALL.)

Stay tuned as that particular adventure unfolds!
 

Microblogging

Here I thought I was just being lazy; apparently, what I'm doing is "microblogging".

It's been months since I've logged regular entries here on my blog. I can come up with all the normal excuses - I've been busy, stressed, consumed with other things - but I know that I find balance through writing. This is important.

Lately, however, I've been recording my thoughts in 140 character chunks via Twitter. I keep TweetDeck open on my computer throughout the day, and I find great amusement in my friends' Tweets. I take a minute here or there to scan through the updates and find out what my friends are up to... almost like meeting up with all my favorite people at the watercooler, except it takes much less time, and they're all spread across the world. 

I've linked Twitter to Facebook, so it automatically updates my status. And that feeds Plaxo. And my profile on the MSN network. (Tell me: exactly why do we need so many stinkin' social networks?!?)

I've also linked it here to my blog. On the right side of the screen, you'll see a section labeled "Microblogging" that shows my five most recent Tweets. So if nothing here is new, at least that will be.

I'm going to re-focus on my blogging. Like I said, it's important. And boy, do I have stuff to talk about! It may not amuse anyone but me ... but then again, that's sort of the purpose of this blog anyway.

Of course, that's not to say microblogging doesn't have its benefits. Learning to say something quasi-meaningful in 140 characters is a way to practice brevity.

And that's never been my strong suit.

Overhaul complete

I don't precisely know what bug bit me this evening. Maybe it's the rain, or the springtime urge for fresh, new, and clean. Or maybe I was looking for another way to avoid blogging.

Regardless, "The World According to Angie" now has an updated look for spring.

I wanted something sort of citrusy without being too overwhelmingly bright. Orange sort of "does" it for me right now. I found the color scheme at http://kuler.adobe.com/ (If you do anything graphic- or art-related, you MUST bookmark this site!)

I'm also playing with some of the new features TypePad is offering to subscribers. The new Design tool is much-improved, and they're making it really easy to add widgets and other fun stuff to the sidebar. (Hence, the changes you see here.)

So, now that my blog is all fresh and shiny again, I guess that means I ought to start using it, huh?

Under Construction

Please excuse the mess! I'm working on a new theme & layout for "The World According to Angie". Things may look a little ... funky ... tonight while I'm working on it.

One Word

 

For the second year in a row, I'm taking on Ali Edwards' One Word challenge (more here, and here).  Last year, my word was balance.  This year ... it's invest.

I will invest in myself.  My marriage.  My faith.  My health.  My career.  My passions.

I will invest my time, and my money, and my blood, sweat, and tears.

Because I am worth it.  He is worth it.  We are worth it.  It is worth it.

I'll blog more about this later, but for now, I have to ask ... what's your word?

Getting back in the swing of things

For days, I've been putting off blogging and putting off blogging and ... well, you get the idea.  Quite frankly, I just haven't felt like it.  Anybody else having trouble getting back in the swing of things?

Well, if I wait until I feel like it, this blog might just go dormant ... so I'm going to act on some advice my Mom gave me once.  "You can do anything for fifteen minutes.  Set the timer and just do whatever it is you've been putting off for fifteen minutes.  And when it goes off, stop."

So, I've pulled out my new klip timer - a fantabulous Christmas gift from my Jim, because every speaker should have a super-great timer with stand - and set it for one quarter of an hour.

I can't guarantee I'll say anything particularly profound in this entry, but then again, this is me we're talking about.  When have I ever managed to be profound?

Today was my first day back in the office after a blissful break.  I was off the 24th and 25th for Christmas - which we spent here, in Dallas, with Jim's family (and that deserves its own blog entry, because we had eighteen people in our little house, and nobody killed anybody else and we only had one fire and all my project-planning skills helped it actually go pretty smoothly, and it was amazing to experience all that joy just overflowing from room to room).  Then, I worked an early day on the 26th so we could hit the road and do a second Christmas celebration with my brother's family in Springfield, MO.  (Which also deserves its own blog entry, because whoever thought going to an amusement park in 20-degree weather was a good idea ... deserves a good horse-whipping.)

We were back in Dallas on the 30th, spent New Year's Eve with Audrey & Chris (and Logan), and then did NOTHING - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - here at the house from the 1st to the 4th.  Omigosh, it was blissful...

So when the alarm went off at 5:45 this morning, and I begged Jim for just five more minutes of cuddle-time (like, three times... it's disgusting what tricks I'm willing to resort to in order to delay the inevitable getting-out-of-bed) I totally and completely DID NOT WANT TO GO TO WORK.

I gave myself a serious talking-to in the shower.  I am blessed to have a job right now.  I know so many people who are looking for work... I'm doubly blessed to have a job I like the majority of the time.  So I need to pull my head out of my butt, quit wishing for another two days to stay in my PJs and bum around my art studio, and be an adult.

All that while washing my hair.  A whole lots of suds and a guilt trip, too.

Well, it worked.  I was at the office early (one of my New Year's Resolutions) and kicked it into high gear.  Our annual Sales Meeting is next week at the Gaylord over in Grapevine.  I'm thrilled I don't have to get on a plane, but I'll be at the hotel from Thursday until Sunday.  Which wouldn't be so bad, except that Thursday is my birthday.  Not only working on my birthday, but working through the late afternoon and on into the evening.

"Be an adult, Angie.  Quit your whining."  I don't know whose voice that is I keep hearing in my head, but they've got absolutely no sympathy whatsoever.  Sniff.

I am, however, looking forward to my presentations.  I'm co-presenting a set of breakouts on B2C eBusiness trends to our Residential sales force on Friday, and Saturday I'm flying solo, presenting a series of breakouts to our Commercial sales force on the B2B system I product-manage.  Then, Saturday evening, I get to shake hands and answer questions for (2? 3?) hours at the Networking Showcase.

And then I'll come home and sleep all day Sunday.

With this big event - and these presentations - just a little over a week away, I obviously needed that attitude readjustment this morning.  I got a ton of stuff done today, including mapping out the rest of my week.

But I'm so totally looking forward to spending Friday night in my studio, and Saturday morning, too - while Jim and Jay watch the Liverpool soccer game.  After all, I've got to finish those assignments from the final couple weeks of "Design Your Life".

But that, too, is for another blog post.

Huh - a halfway respectable blog entry.  Mom's right - it is amazing what you can accomplish in just fifteen minutes.

An Attitude of Gratitude

I should probably go post this over on my long-neglected creative blog, but ... my blogs, my rules ... I wanna post this here.  So sue me.

I've spent the last eight weeks taking the most amazing class on page layout and design, taught by the Design Goddess herself, Cathy Zielske.  It's called Design Your Life, and it has totally changed mine.  Although my photography was in high gear, my scrapbooking and paper-crafting was what you might call "stunted".  "Without insipration."  Yeah, I had cropper's block.

It's a 12-week class, so we've got another four to go, but it focuses on the fundamentals of good design.  Cathy's taught us about balance and whitespace, symmetry and asymmetry, emphasis and focal points and repetition.  I've learned why some of what I was doing was good, and I've learned a lot about what I can be doing better.

And not only have I created a whopping 24+ layouts in my DYL class album, but I've been able to apply these same techniques at work.  Seriously.  I designed this one-sheet last week for one of the tools on our eBusiness system, and it looked SO good.  Because I consciously thought about balance, and repetition, and unity, and whitespace.  And I made purposeful design decisions.  There was nothing accidental about how damn good that document looked.

Maybe next time I'll find a way to get my boss to pay for my scrapbooking design class...

And then I did the same thing when I designed a banner ad for the site.  Something about one-thirds/two-thirds proportions, and choosing my colors with the help of http://kuler.adobe.com.

In the remaining few weeks, Cathy will cover typography, and I CAN'T WAIT.  Oh, and I'm holding off on working on our wedding album until the class is done, and I know it's going to look SO much better for everything I will have learned.

But, I digress.

When we covered repetition, we talked about repeating elements tying together an album, or a book/document, and our assignment involved this adorable "take 5" book about our family.  Each page was for a different family member, and they had to write down five things they liked about themselves.

So that got my creative juices a'flowing ... and I broke out Adobe InDesign ... and with the help of my new Bind-It-All tool, I'm bringing a freakin' sweet little album with me for our family Thanksgiving.

 

I created interior pages for each member of our family that will be present for Thanksgiving, including 2-year-old Lyla.  (I figure my brother might get a kick out of filling out hers.)  The idea is that each person will record a list of five things they're thankful for this year.  I'll then print a single 4x6 headshot of each person, in black-and-white, and attach it to their page.  For example:

  

That would appear on the left, and the facing page - on the right - would look like this:

  

(Those photos, of course, are just there to give you an idea of what it will look like. They'll be replaced with the shots I'm taking during our semi-annual family photo shoot this coming weekend.)

Anyway, that's the idea.  I figure it'll be fun to look at this album in a couple of years and see what we were all thankful for in 2008... even 9-year old Gabby and 2-year old Lyla.

What are you grateful for?  Even if you and your family don't record that information in an album, I challenge you to discuss it ... maybe over your Thanksgiving meal.  There's a game I heard about from a friend, and we're going to play it this year - one person starts with the letter A, and comes up with something that begins with that letter that they're thankful for.  Then, the next person has to come up with a "B".  Then, a "C".  And so forth, until you finish the alphabet.  Goofy and silly ... yes ... but also a good way to put us in the mindset of having an attitude of gratitude.

I've got an awful lot to be grateful for this year.  I'm grateful I decided to sign up for "Design Your Life".  I'm grateful Jim is so supportive of my hobbies and passions.  I'm grateful I get to spend Thanksgiving with my family.  And even though my brother will roll his eyes and complain, I'm grateful he'll fill out his page in this album.

Christmas Q&A (just for fun!)

This morning, as I sipped my coffee and perused my email, I found a note from my sweet stepdaughter.  Veronica sent me one of those email questionnaire messages where you're supposed to copy it into a new note, change the answers from theirs to yours, and send it to a bunch of your friends - including the person who sent it to you.  The idea is that you'll learn stuff about your friends that you didn't already know.

I'm not typically one to propagate these, but today, I did ... for two reasons: one, Veronica sent it to me; and two, a few weeks ago, my family circulated one and I learned all sorts of stuff about my Dad and my brother that I didn't know.  Huh ... they really do work...

This one was Christmas-themed - 25 questions having to do with the holiday season - and since I was feelin' it, I filled it out.  And it turned out to be way longer than what Veronica sent me.  But it was fun, and I sent it along to my family and some close friends.

And I figure, why not post it here, too.  So, here you go - the laziest blog post ever - 25 questions about Christmas.  Enjoy!

---

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Gift bags if I’m giving the gift ‘cause I can make ‘em look pretty, but wrapping paper if I’m opening it.  It heightens the anticipation!

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Definitely artificial.  Not as messy, and better for my allergies.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Usually the first day after Thanksgiving that I’m home, but this year, we’re doing it early (TOMORROW!) so Veronica can decorate it with us.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Nope.  I much prefer Gluweihn.  (Got some fond memories of a sleigh ride in Garmisch and the Weinachsmarkt in Stuttgart with steaming mugs of the stuff…)

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Ooooh… this is hard.  Probably my dollhouse.  The one my Daddy hand-made for me.  Ah, all those hand-cut shingles…!  I had hours upon hours of fun playing with that dollhouse.  Of course, don’t get me started about how my little brother ripped out the railing on the staircase within minutes of me opening it … (I love you anyway, Jim.)

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My brother Jim.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Me.    Oh, I have to pick someone else?  Okay … my Mom.  Or Audrey.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes!!!  And it’s the BEST.  Mom and Dad and Jim (my brother) worked together to make it for me; it’s hand-cast white ceramic, just like the one my Mom made when I was a baby.  I LOVE my nativity set … it’s one of my absolute most cherished possessions.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail, definitely.  I love coming home every day in December and checking the mailbox to see what pretty envelopes and letters will be inside!  I think in this day and age of electronic communication, we’ve lost sight of the joy that comes from receiving the tangible written word from a loved one.  Even if the only thing hand-written is the signature.  

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A 20-lb bag of potatoes.  My ex-father-in-law thought he was funny.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Here’s a really obscure reference for you … the old cartoon “Twas The Night Before Christmas” with the mice and the guy building the clock tower.  Remember that?  Where the know-it-all little boy mouse sent Santa a letter and said that no one believed in him, and Santa cancelled Christmas for the entire town, so they decided to build a clock tower that would chime out that song… okay.  I’ll stop now.

13. When do you start shopping?
As soon as I can start getting in the mood.  Seriously, this year, it’ll be as soon as Jim tells me I can.  I’m ready!!!  But I’m an early shopper.  I like having everything done at least a week or two before Christmas, so I can relax and enjoy everything else about the holiday.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes, but in my defense, it was from one of those White Elephant gift exchanges at one of the many Toastmasters holiday parties I attended in a given season.  I took the gift I got at one of them and gave it at the next exchange.  (Is that wrong?)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
How much time do we have?  <sigh>  Honestly, there are two things that “make” Christmas for me: Aunt Fern’s blue-ribbon award-winning orange rolls (which my Mom makes if she’s feeling up to it!) and Peanut Blossoms.  I can do without every other kind of Christmas cookie, but for some reason, Christmas isn’t Christmas unless I make at least one batch of Peanut Blossoms.

16. Lights on the tree?
But of course.  Lights … but NO TINSEL.  I’ve got a major tinsel prejudice.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
“What Child Is This” and “Carol of the Bells”.  Of course, I can’t sing either of them, but I love listening to them.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
If I have a choice, it’s to stay home.  I like visiting family for Thanksgiving, or for weekends before or after Christmas, but on Christmas Day, I really like the idea of waking up in my bed with my husband and having a quiet cup of coffee sitting beneath my tree.  And if we’re really lucky, having Jim’s kids there for some part of the day to open gifts and get all crazy.  I guess because we always celebrated Christmas with just our nuclear family when I was a kid, that’s what my heart craves.  But in truth, I can celebrate Christmas anywhere, at any time, as long as I’m surrounded by love.  And with 18 people in our house for Christmas Eve & day this year, there’s gonna be a LOT of love to go around!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
Of course!  Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.  My father puts them all in his yard every year.  <evil grin>

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Angel.  (My name is Angela, what do you think?!?)  I’m looking for a new angel this year ‘cause mine is a little worse for the wear … but I’m looking for a red-headed angel.  They’re sort of hard to find.  (I wonder why…)

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
One present each on Christmas Eve, then all the rest on Christmas morning.  That’s the way we did it when I was a kid, and 99% of the time that Christmas Eve gift was either PJs or --- oooh! --- the year we got our fuzzy blankets!  Remember that, Jim?  My blue-and-white unicorn one … I think you got a red-and-black scotty dog one.  Eddie now has my blanket.  Seriously.  It’s, like, 20-something years old, but he sleeps on it.  Loves the thing.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Work.  This is the time of year we gear up for our sales & dealer meetings, so work is always very stressful.  Trying to leave that at the office and go home and enjoy the holidays can be really difficult.  And inevitably, I wind up having to review presentations or work on stuff during the Christmas break, which stinks.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
The new one I’m going to use this year – we’re going to make ornaments for our tree with photographs printed on vellum so the lights shine through them.  So it’s sepia-toned photos combined with a dark pine green and a deep burgundy… sort of old-timey, old-fashioned.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
If we’re with Mom & Dad, then Dad’s brined turkey.  (Omigosh, it’ll change your life!)  I also love Mom’s standing rib roast.  (mmmm….)  This year, my Jim is going to make a big batch of Chili for Christmas Eve, and I’m still trying to figure out what we’re going to do for Christmas Day luncheon.  (I’m totally open to suggestions…)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Photography equipment!  A backpack to carry both my camera gear and my laptop when I travel, a monopod and accessories, and a new telephoto lens that’ll go to 300mm.  And there’s books and DVDs on my wish-list, too.  Of course, to make it easy, I set up a Christmas Wish List at Kaboodle (which I think EVERYONE should do to make it easy!)