Thursday, September 27, 2007

Tell Your Diabetes Story

Have you or your loved ones been affected by diabetes? Are you and your family looking for a way to give back to others? Do you enjoy being creative? Then check out the Inspired by Diabetes initiative. According to the website:

"Inspired by Diabetes is a global campaign asking people with diabetes, as well as their family, friends and healthcare professionals, to express how diabetes has impacted their lives — and share those stories with others around the world."
The initiative is hoping to get those who have been touched by diabetes to share their journeys and triumphs through the Creative Expressions Competition. And if you enter, you won't just be sharing your story--you'll be helping children around the world live with and overcome the disease. For every entry to the Creative Expressions Competition, Eli Lilly and Company will make a donation to the Life for a Child Program on behalf of the entrant. The Life for a Child Program uses donations to provide insulin, diabetes supplies and diabetes education to children around the world. In addition, Eli Lilly and Company will support initiatives to help children with diabetes here in the United States.

So what are you waiting for? If you have a diabetes story to tell, why not do it now? You'll inspire others through your experience and help children, here in the U.S. and across the globe, receive the treatment and education they need to live with diabetes.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Another Bulleted Friday

Lots going on. Unfortunately, that means not a lot of time for posting. Stick around, though. It will get better, I promise!

  • It's official! I'm a contributing blogger for Radiant Magazine Online. Check out my first post to the Going Green blog, if you're so inclined.
  • Jury duty is over and I have to say that it was quite the experience. I hope to do a complete post about it in the future, but for now, suffice it to say that the six days I spent on that jury were stressful and emotionally draining.
  • On the bright side, I met some really great people while performing my civic duty. I had the opportunity to network and we ate some really great food, too!
  • I'm still considering the offer from Old Job. It's a pretty tempting offer, complete with new position, more responsibility, and competitive pay. *Sigh* Now I have to sit down and create a pros and cons list. It's not going to be an easy decision.

Well, it's off to spend my Friday night working on freelance projects. Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday, September 14, 2007

Week's Worth of Bullets

It's been a long week. Bullets are all I have time for, so without further ado:

  • I had jury duty on Wednesday and got chosen to sit for a trial.
  • Trials in the city are not all fun and games.
  • This is no civil trial I'm talking about.
  • On a brighter note, new projects are popping up all over the place.
  • Dare I say this writing thing may really be starting to take off?
  • Old Job is trying to win me back, and I'm actually considering their offer.
  • Last week's Thursday Thirteen must have really inspired me because I've been on the treadmill three times this week, which was my goal, and I have plans to get on it Saturday and Sunday, as well.
  • Of course, the snacks and lunches out this week during the trial have not helped out in the calorie cutting department. One thing at a time, I keep telling myself. One thing at a time.
  • I'm hoping for a productive weekend because deadlines are looming. Wish me luck!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday, September 07, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #14

I've been very, very lax in the exercise department. This week, Thursday Thirteen is my motivation tool.



Thirteen Reasons I Should Get on the Treadmill

1. Because it's right there in my dining room and I have to walk past it every time I go to the kitchen to get something to eat.

2. Because I keep going to the kitchen to get something to eat.

3. Because the scale is screaming for relief.

4. Because my buttons and zippers are screaming even louder.

5. Because my chin is starting to grow a baby again.

6. Because I feel lathargic and tired most of the time.

7. Because what used to be muscle has quickly lost its firmness.

8. Because while I like my curves, I prefer them a smidge smaller and tighter.

9. Because I can definitely tell I'm not as fit as I was six months ago.

10. Because I remember (way in the back of my mind) that I enjoy exercising when I actually do it.

11. Because I could use those endorphins to pump me up.

12. Because the holidays are coming and I could use a little metabolism kick to keep me from gaining a buttload of pounds.

13. Because I got a last minute invite to head to the beach this weekend and my bathingsuit isn't looking as good as it did the last time I was in it.

If all that doesn't get me on that treadmill, nothing will!



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Monday, September 03, 2007

Ta-Da!

The painting is finished! I actually did it, all by my lonesome. And I'm very pleased with the result. It went from this...



To this...





I was a little worried that the wall color might be too dark, but it looks great. Exactly the way I'd pictured it. You can't really tell the true colors from these pictures because of the lighting in the room, but the walls are a warm medium blue (Behr's Bleached Denim) and the ceiling and trim are a light blue-gray color (Behr's Cumberland Fog). The walls are a bit darker than they seem in the pictures, but the bottom picture is the closest to the actual shade.

Now that I've finished that little project, I'll be moving my furniture back in and getting things organized as my home office. I'm hoping to find an affordable futon or day bed to make it a combination office/guest room, but for now it's all book cases, file cabinets and desk.

I've already picked out the colors I'll be doing my dining room and kitchen. Now I just need more three-day weekends.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Reading: A TBR Update

It's been a while since I've talked about my TBR Challenge progress, so I thought I'd give an update.

TBR #7 was Digging to America, by Anne Tyler. I really enjoyed this book. There wasn't a lot of action, but the tensions of culture-clashes and assimilation were enough to keep me turning the pages. A very character-driven book, the story followed three generations of two families as they attempted to create an American story of their own. I found the different race- and culture-perspectives of each generation were well-written. The miscommunications and underlying tension caused by these perspectives were amusing, saddening and angering all at once. The obvious message of this story is that "Digging to America" isn't as easy as it may seem. And finding a place for yourself and your traditions once you get here is even more difficult.

TBR #8 was Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri. I liked it. A lot. Reading a short story collection was a good change of pace from the novels I'd been reading. I like to throw in some variety every now and then. I can understand why this collection was a Pulitzer Prize winner. The stories were execellent studies of the human experience, particularly that of immigrants, but also that of married couples (young and old), families torn apart by war, women searching for belonging and purpose, men learning to be gentle and kind. If you like stories about other cultures, you'll like this book. If you like stories about people, you'll like this book. I think it has something for most people who enjoy character driven stories about the struggles and successes that life often tosses our way.

And then, since I got through Interpreter so quickly, I decided to read Anne Lamott's Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith. I want to BE Anne Lamott. If I could chose any person to be my mentor, she'd be the one. I admire her sense of humor, her vulnerability, her ability to be honest in a way that most people aren't, her bare-naked spirituality and willingness to admit she isn't perfect. And man oh man do I want to write like her. So I devour everything she writes in the hopes that some of her talent and humor will seep into me. A writer can dream...

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