Puppy Business

I kind of started a puppy sitting business by accident.

I was looking for a side job to help supplement my writing gig and watching a puppy while writing seemed like a fantastic way to double-dip.

So, I started walking and sitting for one little guy and then the owner recommended me to her friend who wanted me to take her new puppy too.  The first day of watching both was pandaemonium.  To top it off, a woman walked by me on the street and asked if she could have my e-mail address in case she needed someone to walk her two dogs!  Mind you, I do still have my other job.  This thing was spinning out of control.

Anyway, I think I have it worked out now so that I watch only the one dog on most days, and the two of them one day a week.  I'm still able to get work done during nap times and at home.  

The pups and I are getting used to each other.  I think that puppies are like babies (only puppies are cuter)--they are often crazy for no apparent reason, they loose bodily function often, they slobber on you, and they try to eat everything.  Older dogs and older children don't get enough credit in this world.

The Odd Age of 29

I forgot it was my birthday this morning until I saw the messages on Facebook. I think it's the third year in a row that's happened. I must be getting old.

Tommie and I got to see Michelle Obama yesterday (Oct. 16th, the day between our  birthdays), though she didn't give us a b-day shoutout...I guess there were more important matters to discuss. One of the perks of living in a swing state is getting to see people like the First Lady in a small stadium. 

One year before the big 3-0 and I'll be by myself on a plane to Vegas in a few hours to spend my birthday working. Womp. I'll have to have a big party next year, and the Obamas are invited.

Weekend in Chicago

We didn't run the Chicago marathon this weekend, but I'm pretty sure we did walk a marathon around this city. 

Tommie and I went there to visit my old college roommate who is currently living/working in Illinois, and our other college friend flew in from Boston with her boyfriend. We were there because I had to attend a trade show for my job later that week. We all agreed it was very "grown up" of us to be meeting up in a somewhat random city.

The five of us spent most of our time around Millennium Park and Michigan Ave. We also went to The Art Institute Chicago, but I think there was actually more interesting sculptures and buildings to see just walking around.

Of course there was good food involved, treating ourselves to a nice dinner at Allium, Bandera, and other local finds. We needed to carbo load...it was marathon weekend after all.

It was fun to travel and see friends before heading off to my conference. I wish it could always be like that. Next week I will turn the odd age of 29 sitting on a plane by myself traveling to Las Vegas for another print-related trade show. If only I could find an excuse to treat myself to a birthday showing of The Thunder Down Under, but I don't think that's considered a work expense.

Conference Table Makeover

Tommie's office space at new job recently changed and one of his tasks was to help makeover the room, which, of course, turned into me also helping with the room makeover. Luckily, Tommie and I both like us some HGTV real-life action.

The new office space, which was the old computer lab inside a Durham private school, is shared by four staff members. Among other new items, Tommie chose these L-shape desks from Office Depot for each corner of the room.

The group also wanted a conference table in the middle of the room where they could converge. With a small budget in mind, Tommie and his boss found this dated dinging room table at the Habitat for Humanity Store in Durham for $75, along with the black chairs you will see in the "after" photos for $3 a pop.

The table had some knicks and other eye-sores but it had sturdy bones and plenty of space. So, the boys bought the table and told me to fix it, woman. Not really, they asked me politely what I could do with it and I made something up like I usually do.

Since the organization is a young, education-based non-profit, we went for a bold change, incorporating the group's colors (blue and white) with part of their logo (the "U").

Like most DIY projects I start, I had no idea what I was doing. After giving the wood and laminate surface a little sanding down, we coated it with Zinsser Cover Stain Primer which I read worked on laminate.

Then we applied a really good Valspar semi-gloss white paint to the base and the legs, even painting over the rusted brass "details." The top got a few coats of Olympia's premium semi-gloss, low VOC paint in Brilliant Blue. 

The logo was created by first tracing the outline of a trash can lid to get an even circle, then putting tiny pieces of painter's tape around it. I also used painter's tape to create the "U" inside the circle.

After applying three layers over consecutive weeks, the finished product got a couple light coats of Briwax clear finishing wax to make it seal and shine.

The U isn't perfectly even, and the surface of the table shows some bumps and imperfections, but we'll just call those "marks of character" and enjoy the end result as it is--bright, fresh, and vibrant.

We Are Moving...Again!

The stars have aligned for my husband and I to embark on our next journey, and it's taking us to North Carolina!

Tommie was recently offered a job at a non-profit based in Durham, NC. I really think the change will be good for us and will help us move on to the more "grown-up" stages of our lives. Let's be honest, with the household income of a writer and an organizer, we really should be in a more affordable place. 

The truth is, Tommie and I have felt a pull to North Carolina since our first road trip together six years ago. It was the first stop on our drive from Massachusetts to California. Since then, we have been back to visit on several occasions. My Mom blames Dawson's Creek, which is partly true. I fantasized about rowing down a moonlit creek where they filmed the show until I learned there were gators down there. Anyway, we won't be by the creeks in Durham, but there is still a lot to like about the area. It's warm, it's cheaper, it's up-and-coming, and it's an interesting place to explore.

Before Tommie landed his interview, we started a Vision Board on Pinterest with North Carolina in mind. Now, a couple months later, we are getting excited to head down there and start pinning in real life.

Thankful

With Thanksgiving upon us, it's as good a time as any to reflect on the things we are most thankful for. 

For all the griping that I do, I have a lot of big things to be thankful for this year such as....

A miraculously warm and sunny wedding day.

My mom's recovery from kidney surgery.

Beginning a job that affords me more time and writing experience.

 A safe and memorable trip to Turkey.

I can only hope the upcoming year is full of equally grateful, sunny moments.

Breathe

You can tell, based on my lack of posting, that I have been preoccupied. Planning my wedding, a trip to Turkey, and deciding to pursue a new job in the middle of all this has got my head spinning! As I approach the final week before the big day, I know I need to make a very conscious effort to slow down and enjoy this time.

I need to appreciate all the pieces coming together as they have. One year ago, I said that I wasn't stressing over the planning process; that I wanted everything to come together organically. In the middle of the process, it was hard to see how that would ever happen, but now at the end I see it--the garden, the inn, the local food, the custom cupcakes, the decor I've gathered and made, my knock-off gown, our non-denominational ceremony, and all my random helpers from Craigslist--I see them all connected now in a weird, contrasting, interesting, different, and beautiful way that screams "us," and that is how I know it worked out the way it was supposed to. Now it's time watch as it all plays out in front of us and enjoy that it's a celebration of who we are, what we like, and what we have together.

Stay tuned for a recap of how it all came to be with photos galore!

A New (And Perhaps Even Busier) Year Ahead

2010 was a busy year; it was a major events year; it was an expensive year. In 2009 Tommie and I moved back to Massachusetts, but other than the move itself, 2009 was pretty uneventful: we lived below my grandparents, weren’t very well employed, and we didn't have any money coming in to do anything exciting.
At the start of 2010 Tommie and I began new jobs at different non-profits. Over the summer we moved into a new apartment. We finally got engaged. In the fall we bought a new car. Then all of my teeth starting crapping out which must mean I also began to age rapidly in 2010 (great).
I guess some years you just have to get a lot done. It’s almost been too much for my little Libra heart to take, but I better get used to it since I know we will see a ripple effect into 2011. I don’t think it’s possible for the year ahead to be boring with the wedding approaching next summer, our constant quest to seek a creative and balanced lifestyle, travel plans set for California and honeymooning out of the country. We’ll also feel the effect in our wallets, but that’s another story.

I really liked my career horoscope for 2011 (from Yahoo), especially this part...You prefer any work that involves socializing, utilizing your creative and intellectual talents and of course flirting your heart out. This is why sitting behind an isolated desk doing menial tasks will just never rock your world. You're finally coming to terms with saying no to anything you consider a giant waste of your time, and you can thank Saturn for that. Adding to the planetary support to align work with soul, Neptune, the planet of glamour and dreams enters your work sector this April through August. It shall then again return in 2012 to stay for an extended 14-year ride, making sure that you absolutely adore what you do. This is a wonderful opportunity to find meaning and inspiration in your work.

I better work on myself and my career so that my 14-year plan is ready to be in effect by 2012! That's fine with me though...my hope is that 2011 is a year of growth, of building confidence, of fully embracing my creativity. It's also the year I'm getting married (yikes!) and I need to start working on my grown-up life plans (sorry, Mom, babies are NOT part of the upcoming plan). It will be be another busy, eventful year, but I'm ready for it.

End of Fall

It's been a drab fall. Summer was hot; summer was long, and that has made for pretty lame fall foliage around these parts. Strong early fall windstorms didn't help the matter by ripping weak leaves off the trees before they peaked.I've done what I could to recognize the season...put out pumpkins from our final CSA pick up (I can say good-bye to eating vegetables now), binge on apple cider donuts, and heat up mulled cider mix, but the season's gone by fast and pretty much unnoticed. November is almost here and I am not ready for what that means.

What's nice about fall is that it throws in a couple of last minute beauties...days like today which are in the 70's, sunny and crisp. There was a pretty layer of white fog in the harbor today just before the sun was about to push through and I wished that Tommie wasn't at work already so he could grab his camera and take some photos. I wished I didn't have to go to work so I could take a long walk and maybe get more cider donuts because you can never have too many of those. If I ruled the world, I wouldn't just tell people to stay home on snow days, I would tell them to stay home on days like today...probably the very last nice day for six months. No one should spend a day like this in the office.

The Perks

Most of us work because we need to pay the bills and, if we're lucky, we might also get some perks. Typical perks include things like paid holidays and health care, then there are off-beat perks...things like fresh cut flowers and vegetables.
While these things aren't free just because I work for a land preservation group, I consider it a perk that every Thursday on my way out of the office driveway I pick up bags of fresh produce from my CSA: a colorful abundance including basil, carrots, beets, cucumbers, squash, broccoli, and very flavorful garlic. And this Friday, the on-site education center opened their "pick your own flower" field, so I spent my lunch break picking sunflowers, sweet peas, and zinnias.

There is just nothing like fresh herbs and bright sunflowers to quite literally perk your mood.

New Beginnings

I started my new job this week. I'm adjusting back to a 9-5 schedule and doing actual work (I guess some people don't consider searching Craigslist work).

It's going well. I have a lot to learn but everyone has been welcoming and helpful. I share an office on the third floor of an old estate with another Libra. At lunch I sometimes wander the garden which is bursting right now with cherry and magnolia trees. There are bullfrogs, birds and ladybugs. Spring is a hopeful season. We're reminded that things don't stay gloomy forever. Everything is starting fresh at Long Hill, including me. A new job and soon a new apartment; it's a much needed fresh start.

(I'll post some springtime pics of the garden soon.)

I Knew I Liked This Place

Last July Tommie and I stumbled upon Long Hill, a beautiful park and estate owned by The Trustees of Reservations. I only could have dreamt that almost a year later I would be given the opportunity to work there. What an office! I am very fortunate to have the chance to work for The Trustees of Reservations, an organization that does a lot of great work to conserve land and estates across Massachusetts. As a child who spent far too much time playing with bugs in her backyard, I am looking forward to working for a place that gives other kids (and adults) the opportunity to enjoy exploring all that nature has to offer.I love the organization, I love the location, and I love the fact that I can now support my Craigslist addiction and furnish our new apartment!

What We Have In Common With Thoreau

We've all heard of Henry David Thoreau: he's that old guy who's really into nature, lived out in the woods and wrote about it. That's what I knew when I read Walden, but within the first part of the book something struck me as odd. Thoreau only spent two years of his life on the pond. For a guy who has a reputation close to that of a hermit, I found it strange that in reality he lived there for a short time.

That is what peaked my interest in a recently published book called "The Thoreau You Don't Know," by Robert Sullivan. I knew the book would help answer some of my questions about the often overlooked aspects of Thoreau's life, but it surprised me to learn how much Thoreau's world (1830's-1840's) parallels the current state of our own. To get a better understanding of Thoreau, Sullivan points out the social/economic state of Concord (and America) at the time Thoreau chose to pursue his little experiment in the Walden woods...times which are eerily similar to our own:

"To get an idea of what Thoreau was thinking about work and about making a living when he wrote Walden, you have to stop and look at the work situation in Concord and the towns in the area, to imagine the economic landscape around the pond the way you might try and imagine the trees and the birds and the water...

"The Concord that existed when he went to college, in 1834, was different form the Concord in which he is about to build a cabin, in 1845, at twenty-seven; like the rest of America, it is in the midst of a transformation. It bears repeating that from 1837 through 1843, the country was caught in a severe financial depression. In general, New England's economy was changing, colonial agriculture being replaced by the early stages of modern industrial capitalism, all the economic and political power that had been dispersed among farmers now being concentrated in a smaller number of people, primarily landowners and business owners." (Sullivan 125)
Just as in Thoreau's time, the America that existed when I went to college, in 2002, is vastly different from the America in which I am now building the foundation for my future in 2010. When I went off to school, 9/11 had just happened, we were going to war, but on the flip side, the housing market was booming and jobs were readily available. Fast-forward eight years...I am twenty-six (Thoreau's age when he built his house on Walden), America is in the midst of a similar transformation. Our country is once again caught in a severe financial recession. The ongoing war has not been cheap, the housing market has crashed and jobs have dried up. I don't know if it's comforting or disturbing to know that Thoreau (an aspiring writer himself at the time), was faced with very similar issues over 100 years ago...makes me wonder if we've learned anything from the past.

Even after reading this book, I won't really know Thoreau, but if his thought process about going off to be more self-sustaining, getting back to nature, not being owned by a job, was in any part due to his frustration with the way things were headed in Concord and America in general (industrialization, a failing economy, and class separation), then I know a lot of people my age can relate. We're frustrated, confused and distrusting. We graduated, like Thoreau, into a world full of broken systems and because of this we don't want to be a part of them. All this is enough to push even the most practical of us to want to get all "Thoreauvian" and desire to build a modest home with a garden on a little pond outside town.

Thoreau struggled with these things over 100 years ago and perhaps another generation will struggle with them 100 years after me in a world that is even more advanced and industrial. I wonder if this moment in time will spark modern Walden-like experiements...there is something about seeing the modern world in turmoil that causes a lot of frustrated souls to go running back to nature for the answers.

Creative Souls

Maybe it's being around artists all day at work, but lately I've been having an overwhelming urge to create things. I consider myself a creative person, but I'm no artist. I have always enjoyed the less tangible "art" of writing but I find myself wanting to diversify...and not just wanting to, but feeling like a have to. I never thought I'd see such a quick decline of the printed word as I have in the past couple years. It's hard for me (and even harder as a relatively recent grad) to come across any jobs in the publishing industry that are not tech- or medical-related, and at that point, I feel like I might as well sell my creative soul to some big data entry corporation.

It's not that I want to become a painter or a sculptor, but I do want to be happy. I see a variety of people come into my office and what I've learned from them is that, really, anything you can think up is possible. I've seen a woman who is starting her own journal line inspired by her family relationships and her mother's artwork. I've seen two woman come in to discuss the outline of a cookbook featuring local recipes and artwork. I've seen watercolors painted by a famous chocolatier who started making candy in his basement and artwork in his spare time. While these people won't make the salary of a big CEO, they will feel better about what they do every day and be in charge of their own life and that's what I admire.