Have you ever been a full grown woman trying to teach a two-year-old boy to pee standing up? I’ve survived the potty training of several nephews and a few friends’ children, and it always seems to go the same way.
“But why?” the short dude asks after I’ve told him to aim for the middle. He giggles. He waives his equipment around, testing his ready-aim-fire skills and hitting the wall more often than the potty. “This is funner!” he’ll eventually announce, grinning proudly as he figures out he can hit the mirror if he stands on the toothbrushing stool.
Upon having this conversation with one such little guy this evening, I’ve decided I don’t have a good enough answer. Telling a toddler to aim for the bowl so there won’t be such a big mess to clean up later is silly. After all, he’s too short to hold a mop; I’m the one stuck cleaning up the mess. And really, I don’t mind, because tomorrow I’ll send him home to his mother.
I am not good at aiming for the middle. I don’t have boy parts, but I’ve never been the kind of girl to let that particular lack stop me from trying to pee standing up. I can very clearly remember being two years old, my various family members gathered around me and the potty explaining why girls have to sit. I laugh just remembering it.
As a freelancer, a business owner, a blogger, an OCD nutjob with ADD tendencies, I’m not much better at the whole middle thing. For weeks on end I aim to please-please-please 12 hours a day, sometimes more, and spend 2-4 hours wishing I was two again. At some point I sleep, eat, and go potty. Then I crash. I point my metaphorical penis at the wall and think “Yeah! This IS way funner!” I digress into blow-off-everything-I-can chick. Then eventually I get back at it and become the me I consider to be the one in charge of pretending to be a responsible adult. What I do works for me — as in, I’m functional for the most part, and my bills are paid — but at the same time I have my moments of wishing I could be like all those lovely composed folks who do all things in moderation.
There should be a middle. I’ve tried hard to find it, with fabulous aim. I’ve read books, seen therapists, been drugged, taken e-cources, gotten hypnotized. In August I’m seeing a life coach. For now, I’m trying very hard to accept that I’m simply a better juggler than balance-beam-walker.
But I’m curious, how do you all find your balance? What is the middle you aim for?
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To carry the urinal metaphor a bit further
Often there is a deodorant tablet sitting on the bottom.
That is symbolic of your biggest obstacle or challenge in life.
Aim for THAT (as most guys do!)
You won’t get it all at once. But eventually, bit by bit, it will all disslolve and go away.
(Hahahah!) Sorry, I couldn’t help it….you DID ask what we aim for!!
Friar’s last blog post..Friar’s Least Popular Baptism Names for New-Borns
Friar — You’re funny! I’ve spent quite a bit of time in a gay (male) bar in San Francisco, and in this bar there is no female restroom. So when I’m there I pee with the boys, although I do sit down. It’s the only urinal-containing restroom I can clearly picture right now. Of course, the deodorant thing I can’t picture. I guess I’ve never looked THAT closely at their middles. Hehe. (Now I’m going to have to go look at your baptism names.)
Amy,
ROFLOL! Have I said how much I love your perspective yet today?
Strangely, though I’ve babysat a million kids, worked as a nanny a long time ago, and had a little person of my own, I’ve never had to deal with a boy of that age. So you’ve given me my first peek into something that might drive me nuts.
On a vaguely serious note, they ask you why, because their parents say ‘cuz I said so, and you give answers. It’s more fun.
On The Middle: I think it’s a myth. I relate completely to being too far one way and too far the other way later. I think “balance” is really “swing, gently,” as in a pendulum. We’re all a bit too neat one week and a bit too messy the next, bored because we’re caught up now then swamped another day, [extend metaphor endlessly here].
IMHO anyone who tells you they lead some calm, ordered life is a royal bore or kidding themselves. Look closely, we’re all swinging. I just try not too swing too violently.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
Great post, for obvious reasons, not least the fabulous and hilarious metaphor.
I am inclined to agree with Kelly that balance is a myth. Once you have one aspect in check there’s always another that needs your attention. Achieving balance is not key. Rather, I’d say simply bringing the aspect that needs attention up to where it needs to be is the idea. Say we have physical, intellectual, psychological, and spiritual aspects of ourselves (or whatever, you get the idea). They’re all connected but each needs attention more than another at some point. I thus focus on bringing up my spiritual, but then discover the physical aspect of my life is down (for example), so then that needs my focus. And on it goes. As Kelly said, we’re swinging back and forth, but the trick is not to swing too far one way so that we never come back the other. Trying to balance all aspects all at once leads to burn-out rather than peace. At some point, I wonder, too, if we reach levels of heightened or improved aspects that we maintain enough so that they need less and less focus.
I think of it best this way: I have friends. Some need more attention than others at certain times. I maintain my circle but sometimes one needs more attention than the others. When she’s fine, another issue with another friend will pop up, and then that friend gets the focus, though I’m not entirely ignoring the others. I’m just not expending as much effort on them.
Ugh. Does this make sense?
PS. I noticed you said you have to hire an editor. You can hire me as your editor any time you need or want.
steph’s last blog post..Commit to the Reward
Whoa. Kelly, I seem to be giving you some competition for longest comments!
steph’s last blog post..Commit to the Reward
Don’t feel bad, Amy. I’ve done things from one extreme to the other (without finding a middle!) since I was a kid. I’ve been near 300 pounds and on the other end, came close to being hospitalized because I’d starved myself until my body wouldn’t accept food. Somehow - and it’s taken YEARS - I’ve come to a place in my life where I hit the middle MOST OF THE TIME and for me, after my history of never being able to find that middle, that’s good enough for me.
Kelly and Steph — I totally think you’re both right. There is no perfect balance. However, there seriously does have to be something better than what I have… which is, at best, semi-organized chaos. To stick with the swinging thing — let’s say it’s a tire swing, because those are fun — I’m either caught in the tree or splat on the ground. The steady back and forth momentum is lost on me, although I wish it weren’t so.
P.S. (Steph), I might take you up on the editing offer sometime. I have two people I use for business stuff, but if I ever feel creative again I might need some help. (Just ask Kelly. Hehe.)
Michele — I’m interested in how you found that balance. I think we’ve talked about the eating disorder thing before, but if not, I can relate. But balance in general… I’d love to know how you’ve found it (most of the time).
Amy,
Don’t think I’ve forgotten, either.
Organized chaos is a phrase I use a lot. Prevents me from calling the house “the dump.”
Keep swinging. I wonder if age me3llows the splat thing?
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
… mellows…
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
WordPress just gave me an error message I will NEVER see again:
“You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.”
Seriously? Me? And why does that error message exist anyway?
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
I assume it’s to prevent spammers. Hehe. Actually, I got that message at another blog the other day and went “WOO HOO! They finally found the right message for me!” Because usually the one I get is the one that goes “Looks like you’ve already said that.” And then I have to say (out loud, to my computer), “Yes, and if you’d let my post go through the first time I said it I wouldn’t have to say it again now, would I?”
I’m looking forward to old age and being mellow.
Hi Amy,
So maybe you are a better juggler than a balance beam walker.
What if you pick up the the right balls in the right place to juggle, then put them down. Move over to the next set in the next place, pick them up and juggle some more. Put them down. Go to the next ones. Threes. Three places and three sets of things to juggle. Triangles are real stable.
Maybe Cirque de Soliel is the model you are after…you could be a damn good juggler.
I love this post and the analogy. I don’t know where Friar has been peeing, oh yeah, Canada. Perfume disk?This has to be guy thing. I have to wonder what he would do in Japan. I hear the toilets talk to you there.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..A Goal Setting Template-Part 3
Amy, I won’t go on and on about what I feel that it is, because I know you don’t like the religion thing. For me, it’s not religion, though. It has nothing to do with religion. I’m not “religious.” And people look down on me because I say that. Maybe I shouldn’t talk about this in the comments… but you asked…
It’s not all spiritual, though. I decided I wanted to live. Eating too much or not at all wasn’t going to help me live. Eating healthfully is the way to go. There are times (rarely) that I allow myself to splurge (within reason) and have a treat I normally wouldn’t eat. But in the back of my mind, I’m thinking: it’s going to be a long time before I have this again. I don’t want to go back where I came from. Maybe not wanting to go back where I came from is a lot of it. I don’t know. I’ve taken one day at a time. That’s the hardest thing. Waiting. Finding the patience to try to improve myself. Argh. I’m a gal of little patience!
And, barely surviving domestic violence probably had something to do with it too. If I don’t take care of myself, who will?
Gosh, now that I’ve written my life’s story, anyone want my autograph? heheheehe Just kidding!
*smiles*
Michele
P.S. I’ve also lost more weight since reading your food blog. Yay! And, I think becoming vegetarian and eating mostly raw has helped stop the food cravings and improve my eating habits naturally.
I have no balance, which means I have nothing intelligent to say on this topic.
However, it’s the best blog post I’ve read in a long time. Really awesome stuff.
Naomi Dunford’s last blog post..How To Suck At Affiliate Marketing
Janice - I do know how to juggle, really. As a kid I wanted to join the circus, not to juggle but to do the trapeze thing… until I learned I’m afraid of heights. I’m also afraid of clowns. But I digress… Your putting down the balls, picking up the next set, etc — that is what I’m going for, or what I’d like to achieve at some point. Unfortunately, I’m not very good at it. I’m determined though, so I’ll figure out how to get there eventually.
Michele — I’ve stopped eating a lot of things since I started working for food poisoning lawyers. Just the gross-out factor alone is enough to make me never want to eat certain things again… As far as religion, I’m all for it if it works for people to help themselves. (What I don’t like is when hypocritical “religious” people use religion as an excuse to persecute others and/or chase me down the street with pamphlets to save my soul. LOL But I don’t think you fall into either category, or you’d have been all over me by now!!) Unfortunately, religion does nothing for me. I’ve studied various religions, and I can’t force myself to believe any of them to be anything more than man’s attempt to explain things to himself and give himself hope. I am happy that it gives you hope; there are days I wish I could find hope through some sort of religion. Finding hope inside myself in a heck of a lot harder, but more attainable for me. As you say, that desire to live is a motivator (for me, too, most of the time). Patience isn’t my strongest quality either, as you know. Perhaps lack of patience is part of the problem here…
Naomi — Thank you. Coming from the queen of really awesome posts (with cuss words), that means a lot.
Yeah, I still can’t get over the bathtub cheese. I’ll NEVER buy cheese from a farmer’s market as long as I live!
Ugh. The things you torment your readers with… Shame on you! hehehehehe
As for the religion…. First, I’m glad you see that I’m not in either of those categories. I don’t believe in any religion either. I’m not of any religion. And you’re right… There is no hope in religion. That’s not where it lays. Like you, I don’t like the hypocrites! So, I always strive to not be one of them. There’s good in everyone and I don’t act like I’m better than anyone–because I’m not. I’m just a wayfaring stranger traveling through this world like all the rest.
And about wanting to live? Well, each time we wake up to a new day… there is hope there, that we have a new opportunity to make our life what we want it to be. We can try at least, right?
*smiles*
Michele
Janice,
Friar hasn’t been anyplace odd. They look like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mag3737/325869770/
and they’re in most (?) men’s rooms these days.
(I sometimes have to check out men’s rooms. Part of the job.)
Michele,
Powerful thoughts. I really admire your strength.
I have a friend who lost a lot of weight after a lifetime of being heavy, and can’t even bend his “rules” to have cake on his birthday now. He runs marathons obsessively, and is a health food fanatic, not really in a good way.
It’s like he looks over his shoulder and sees that heavy guy chasing him, and he’s afraid to be normal for a second or that guy might catch up. He won’t let the pendulum swing back, but it uses up all his joy trying to be that way.
I lost a whole bunch myself several years ago, and what I hated most about the journey is that food is the one addiction you can’t go cold turkey on. We have to find a way to coexist with the stuff.
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
Amy,
I know you think I’ve had a lot of jobs. Did I mention Pre-school teacher? LOL absolute truth.And you are so right about those boys.
Girlfriend. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BALANCE. Don’t believe it. It is something rightous people made up to make us feel bad about ourselves.
Just think about it for a second. Where in nature is it? It isn’t. Only in the sense that it is balanced out by the back and forth of opposites. Up and down, in and out, ying and yang, ebb and flow.
Mediation on the ocean waves. That is my balance. The pendulum of Life. I try not to rage like a crashing Sea. I try to keep my waves in a softer ebb and flow, back and forth in a gentle breeze. It’s the best I can do. The sea never rests, it is never exactly still. Neither are we. Except maybe when we are dead, and I don’t have time to worry about that yet.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Loving Laughter
Michele — Yes, trying is good… And I completely agree with you about trying to see the good in people. Some days I fail miserably at that one, but in general that’s what I aim for.
Kelly — I would like to know why you have to go in the men’s room for your work!?!?!?! Got some major Customer Service Deals going down in the boy’s room? (This wouldn’t surprise me, as I once worked as a receptionist at a law firm where one of the male partners would ask me to come get him out of the stall when his clients would arrive.)
Wendi — I totally want to see your resume. The one where you list every single job you’ve ever had. Hehehe. I like your idea of balance.
This is funny stuff and a great analogy. Finding the middle is pretty damn challenging. Sometimes I think I get really close but then the pendulum swings and I’m riding it to one extreme or the other. Maybe it’s better to forget about the middle and just enjoy the ride.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..July News and Announcements
Melissa — I think you might be right about enjoying the ride!!
Amy,
ROFLOL! Interior design is a big part of Experience Design. It’s also where I got my start in design.
What people see at a bricks-and-mortar place influences how they feel about forking over cash.
I get concerned about bathrooms as part of the customer experience, but some CE people are more obsessed than I am:
http://www.customersarealways.com/2008/06/a_borders_restroom_reminder_th.html
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
@ Kelly: I’m truly touched by your kind words about me! *blushes* And thanks for sharing about your friend. I only hope he can find a place in life where he can just slow down and realize he’s made it to the place he worked so hard to get to, and that he understand it’s time to enjoy that. Bless his heart!
And you’re right about finding a way to coexist with food. It’s hard, but if we make great food choices every day and splurge less, we’ll have a relationship with food that we can actually maintain. 
@ Amy: If you don’t find good in people, I don’t know who does!
@ Melissa: You are SO right about just enjoying the ride! I think searching for the middle is why we sometimes forget to stop and smell the roses!
*smiles*
Michele
*dies laughing at Kelly’s link*
Kelly- LOL You are so the person to have on any team. Who else knows all this stuff? The last time I went into a men’s room was…gee, at Tipitina’s..Big crowd. Lots of cold DIxie Beer and when ya gotta go ya gotta go…no perfume disks there.
Amy- Clowns ARE scary.
Great stuff here. I love the ebb and flow Wendi. Nature is always in a state of entrophy, transitions and cycles. Things constantly change, or is it as they change things remain the same. See? How can we make sense of any of that? Then you throw arbitrary schedules, deadlines, expectations, noise, …phew.. it’s a wonder we all don’t have toddler penis’ syndrome. TPS .
I try for successive approximation. It’s like target practice. As long as I pick the targets most important to me and aim that way, closer and closer works for me. If I get too far off course one way or the other. No worries. I make sure I tag all the bases regularly.
Michele-Wow. Way to go. Someone did not appreciate what a treasure they had in you. Their loss not yours.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..A Goal Setting Template-Part 3
Kelly- ROFLOL!!
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..A Goal Setting Template-Part 3
Janice — I am totally stealing TPS (Toddler Penis Syndrome). HAHAHA!! Who wants to bet that one will bring up some interesting results in my next keyword analysis?!?! LOL
Amy,
First thought I had today: your next search terms are gonna be warped, warped.
Janice,
Brain team, yeah. I never stop reading and learning. No pendulum swings on that one for me.
Maybe basketball team, if you want a guard who can’t put one through the hoop under pressure. Otherwise, very useless.
When do they put together the team of uselessly witty people? That I might be able to get a spot on.
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
@Janice and Kelly
And…SOMETIMES (often in bars), they’ll fill the urinal full of ice-cubes.
Dunno why…(???). Supposedly to prevent splashing (??).
Okay…so they hid the “center”. NOW what are we supposed to aim at?
Life is like that….sometimes you’re given a well-defined target. Sometimes it’s up to you to decide where to direct your energies.
Ohhh…That’s DEEP.
The Toilet Philospher strikes again!
Friar’s last blog post..It’s almost like they’re proud of it…
*raises hand*
Gotta question. Once the urinal is filled with ice cubes, and the (hot) urine hits the ice, does this not cause a flood?
No wonder so many boys prefer to pee outside. Yeeesh.
P.S., Kelly — We could start our own Uselessly Witty Club. Maybe the Pen Men could make us a blog for that. LOL
Friar,
That’s a new one on me. I am completely grossed out. Seems like that would contribute to, not cut down on…
I can’t think about this anymore.
Eeeew.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
Yup. Harry would have fun with the RSS button, but he can’t join without some tequila in him.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
@Kelly and Amy
I didnt’ intend on taking a nice blog post about centering your life and finding balance, and turned it into potty stories.
It just turned out that way…:-)
But good question, Amy.
Without getting too technical, actually the the warm (er) “liquid” melts the ice just enough, so that the ice-cube pile just gets a bit smaller. That’s all that happens…
It’s really not gross at all (it’s just frozen water!)
And actually, I almost prefer to see the ice-cubes. The facilities tend to be much cleaner when they do this.
Friar’s last blog post..It’s almost like they’re proud of it…
Friar — This has been so educational. I feel like I’ve been given a behind-the-scenes tour on how the other half lives… except without the video footage, which is probably best in this case.
Kelly — Why do we have to get Harold liquored up? Can James come? Because I think it would be rude to only invite one Pen Man. I mean, they ARE a dazzling duo…
Friar-Damn. Amenities. The guys get amenities in their loo.
Amy- LOL. TPS ( Toddler Penis Syndrome) I got a giggle. It works though on so many levels. :)))
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..A Goal Setting Template-Part 3
Amy,
Harry’s so… serious. Capricorns don’t get to say that about too many other people. Even uselessly witty Cappys. Harry, are your ears burning?
Somebody’s always talking about a Pen Man.
Tequila’s not the answer for everything (not for anything, with me—icky stuff), but it seemed so Las-Vegas-y.
If Le Roi promises to be uselessly witty, then of course.
Janice,
If ice cubes and urinal cookies is amenities, it’s another reason to be glad I’m a lady.
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
@ Janice: You are TOO KIND to say those sweet words about me! I’m way above the clouds now!
Thank you….
*smiles*
Michele
@Kelly- Teasing the Friar, just teasing the Friar…
Phones and toilets today. As Fats Waller said, ” One never knows, do one ?”
@Michele- You’re very welcome.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..A Goal Setting Template-Part 3
@Kelly (teasing Kelly).
Well, just the fact that I can write my name in the snow…that’s reason enough to be glad I’m a guy!
Friar’s last blog post..It’s almost like they’re proud of it…
*sighs*
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Failing. With Style.
Janice — I had to chuckle at the “amenities in their loo” bit. The first thing I thought was “but we get tampons.” Hehe.
Kelly — What ever happened to that voodoo doll you used to have of the pen men? Is he in the shop being upgraded to Little Pen 3.0?
Friar — I could probably write my name in the snow too… My name is short.
Amy,
He he. It’s been weeks since I stuck a virtual pin in little Pen. James could use one right now, how come I didn’t think of that?
Harry’s ears are burning, that’s enough for me.
Off to conjure virtual voodoo… and work, I suppose…
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..6 Signs That Mean Your Business Is Going to Have to Try Harder
Hi, Amy -
I’m just now reading your post after returning from a 10-day visit with my two young nephews. I saw a lot of aiming (and missing). It’s always hard to find the middle in life — but especially after returning from vacation!
Rebecca Smith’s last blog post..Life, Liberty, Happiness
Kelly — Cheers to virtual voodoo.
Rebecca — Vacation sounds fun. Where did you go? Those nephews are great lesson-teachers, aren’t they? Mine sure are. I haven’t been on vacation this week, but my brain sure does feel like I have been this morning!! (Someone please tell me today is Friday, even though it isn’t…)
Kelly- See. The Friar just has sooooo many talents. ..and he’s not afraid to use them. :)))
Virtual voo doo… it has been while. Hope work is going well.
Back to work for me too.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..A Goal Setting Template- Part 4
My husband and I road tripped out to visit his family in Wisconsin. We had a great time hanging with our nephews (ages 2 and 3), and we definitely learned a lot from them. Their innocence (and honesty!) is admirable. The weekend is right around the corner … Hang in there!
Rebecca Smith’s last blog post..Life, Liberty, Happiness
*tries to ignore thoughts about Friar and his talented penis*
Rebecca — I don’t know where you live, but Wisconsin isn’t too far from me (I’m near Chicago). Sadly, I don’t get up to WI as often as I’d like. I’m actually supposed to be going to Milwaukee in August. Looking forward to it. Glad you had fun with your nephews. I’m just waiting until my niece’s infant twin boys are two… Yeeeeesh. Yay for the weekend. (I’m thinking of making today my Friday. But shhhhh…. Don’t tell. ;-))
Amy,
Come on, now, how am I supposed to work with comments like that? LOL LOL LOL. I’m scaring the neighbors.
Did you say something after the first sentence?
Oh, why do I check my email…
Kelly’s last blog post..6 Signs That Mean Your Business Is Going to Have to Try Harder
Awe, Amy,
Did you have to go and say that Friar had a talented Penis?
Now that is going to be stuck in my head the rest of my day.
No offence Friar, but I do NOT need that stuck in my head.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Loving Laughter
Girls girls girls — My apologies. Ya see, as a gay chick, thinking of a talented penis doesn’t disrupt my day the way it does yours. Now please envision your minds as a dry-erase board as I take it all back. *whoosh whoosh*
Friar — I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to vulgarize you.
(I think this is why Harry calls me Pandora.)
Yes, Friar, we wouldn’t dream of objectifying you in any way, or mentioning salmon or any of that…we should probably be ashamed or something….checking….nahhhh. she says, chuckling away.
Amy-your keywords now have talented penis to go with
that Toddler Penis Syndrome… I am so sure there’s another post there.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..A Goal Setting Template- Part 4
Amy -
We live in central Massachusetts and my in-laws are in western Wisconsin, so the drive is a very long one. Of course, it’s always worth it. I love Chicago. We’ve bummed around there a few times on our trip out. Great city. Enjoy the long weekend!
Rebecca Smith’s last blog post..Life, Liberty, Happiness
Geez….I just came back from my Blog, catching the tail end of the discussion.
(Rolling my eyes, LMAO!)
I don’t think anyone (even previous girlfriends) has ever referred to any of my body parts as being “talented”.
I guess I should be…er…flattered.
Well, since the gloves are off….did you know that when writing in the snow…the real trick is knowing how to dot the “i”.
Now THAT takes talent!
Friar’s last blog post..It’s almost like they’re proud of it…
Friar — A) I’m happy you weren’t offended, and B) I’ve always wondered whether boys have that muscle to stop mid-flow (i.e., the “i dotting muscle”) that girls have.
Janice — You should see the spam I’m getting since yesterday. Totally funny.
Rebecca — It’s hard to spell Massachusetts. Make sure to wave next time you drive through.
ROFLOL!!!! LMAO!!!! Can’t type now.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..A Goal Setting Template- Part 4
Hi Amy,
As the mother of a son I well remember behind the toilet and all around the wall pee stains. I figured his aim would improve with age. For the most part it did, but at 17 he is still learning (metaphorically speaking)
I guess we all are learning about something. My middle is giving my self breaks to refresh the creative juices. I try to not bite off more than I can chew. Which doesn’t always work. I only blog twice a week. All of it adds up and if you can spread it out it’s good.
I get real bitchy if I don’t have time to myself in the morning. Also, I know during certain parts of my cycle I will be a complete fuzz head and real tired, so I try not to get to uptight about things and schedule too much.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Getting Rid of Junk and Adding Some
Ellen — That’s the kind of middle I’m after, what you’re talking about. Rather than giving myself breaks to recharge my creative juices, within balance, I’m either all work-work-work or all play-play-play. I’d like to get to the point where I can blog twice a week, for example. But I’m either all inspired and can’t contain myself from writing more, or I can’t seem to come up with anything worth writing at all (and then don’t bother). I will keep looking for my middle…
Oh, and I didn’t know you had a son. Very cool.
Amy, Emily- Did you see Hunter Nuttall’s post on Introverts yesterday? Some of the introvert qualities/ preferences were very interesting to me. I love my time alone. Could spend hours on end( oh , I do) doing one thing.
I would love to know if the article said anything to you all.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..A Goal Setting Template- Part 4
Janice — I didn’t see it, but I will have to check that out and get back to you.
@Janice - I thought it was a very good article and could relate to what he said. I have a lot of introvert qualities even though I don’t test out as an introvert (as I mentioned on his post). I think it’s because I’m very sensitive to my environment and I find a lot of things, situations, very draining.
@Amy - What I have found it that the ideas never really go away, only the energy level fluctuates. Sometimes my energy level gets really high and I feel kind of manic. I try to go for a long walk to keep my energy in balance.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Getting Rid of Junk and Adding Some
Ellen — I just got back from a walk, although not a long one. I have been walking a lot since I quit smoking, as I’ve found that I no longer cope with stress very well. Walking seems to help, although not as much as smoking did.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these comments! All the talk about urinals reminded me of the time I managed a community theater; I was the only paid staff, and when volunteers didn’t show up to help clean the place(we couldn’t afford a paid cleaning staff), my most loathesome duty was cleaning the men’s room…and the urinals. I raised three sons, so “missing the mark” was not new to me, but cleaning up the urine and pubic hair of strangers was NOT my idea of a good time! Yeah, yeah…that’s why they paid me “the big bucks”…not.
Amy,
I know the discussion in long over but I just came across this (it’s a true story, though hard to believe) and you HAVE TO see it:
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/u/urinal.htm
Experience Design meets urinals! Maybe I can get a post out of this!
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..How You Can Be Remarkable: Write Your Own Story
… is long over…
ugh
Kelly’s last blog post..How You Can Be Remarkable: Write Your Own Story
*grabs the paint and paintbrush and feverishly paints flies*
hehehheheheheehehe
Michele’s last blog post..Blogging Has Its Rewards
Bobbi — I have a few friends who work in theater, and now I’m wondering just how much their jobs entail…. Cleaning the potties would NOT be my idea of a good time either!!
Kelly — *Dies laughing* at “fly-in-urinal research.” How the hell did you find that one?!?!?!?
Michele — It probably doesn’t work at home. At home, folks would be screaming “EWWWWWW, a fly!!!” and miss completely. Hehe.
*sighs*
Wish I’d known about this for those times scrubbing toilets - or should I say the floor - was part of my job description. Would have made for a much nicer work experience.
Michele’s last blog post..Blogging Has Its Rewards
Amy,
We Experience Designers have our sources… no really, a blog I read called Good Experience mentioned it.
He uncovers some killer funny things while trying to send serious messages about Experience Design. Another favorite:
http://goodexperience.com/2008/04/broken-hotel-lobby-de.php
Your reaction—how can this work?—was mine, too. Shows how much I know.
Michele,
Glad you like. I was laughing for five minutes after I saw it.
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..How You Can Be Remarkable: Write Your Own Story
@ Kelly - It was pretty funny! Thanks for sharing.
Michele’s last blog post..Blogging Has Its Rewards
Kelly — I have been to hotels like that. In fact, I did a blogging conference in the winter at a place like that. They had a couch and a short table, no where near each other. And about $20,000 worth of flowers. I was like “priorities, people!” I don’t think I knew you then.
Michele — I can totally see you adding “fly painter” to your resume.
@ Amy - hehehehhee I’ve painted dragonflies before, but not on toilets.
Michele’s last blog post..Blogging Has Its Rewards
ROFLOL!!!!! Fly urinal…..can’t type….LMAO….
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Loving the Line
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