My Ideas, Networked

The first time I watched this TedTalk I was not fully engaged and I blame my surroundings on this.  Sitting in my three hour, once a week class trying to learn how to become a successful Entrepreneur, in a four story, old brick building, the walls breathing is labored heavily with decades of knowledge, frustration and laughter, still standing but not as tall as each brick once had; the small classroom, comfortable for 40 people standing shoulder to shoulder, yet there are just as many desks and chairs in the room as there are people.

The room stuffy and closed with an asylum feel even with a few ceiling to desk windows on the north side of the classroom; yet these large windows are not allowed to be open and free the stale air, to free the stale lifeless students.  Hard, thick, unmovable plastic make up the chairs sitting sternly on metal legs with the smallest area underneath the seat to place a pencil holder or very small book or a tiny purse on the metal basket which is too easily kicked when the person sitting snug behind changes their leg crossing or begins fidgeting.  The wooden desk attached to the same metal meeting the chair gives little room for a book to lie open and encourage note taking, a wooden armrest on the right side stretching out as if it will help the student be comfortable.  One can only sit erect in these chairs because of their hardend disposition, no slumping or hugging the back of the chair.  Did I mention I am in business attire?  

Now here in the comfort of my large, cushioned, form fitting chair where I can bring my feet up and let my back rest into the contour of the backrest as the chair hugs me and swivels a small amount to the right until my knees gently bump up against my desk, my big desk that holds so many items and still enough room to have two books open!  The leisures of sweatpants and hoodies.  I sink into my chair another inch, type into youtube, "Steve Johnson first coffeehouse and the first result appears "Steve Johnson: Where Good Ideas Come From (Good Ideas)." I press play, click an icon and the video fits snug on my screen.  I lean back into my comfortable chair a little further and begin my second adventure.

This time I am hearing more of Mr. Johnson, hearing him telling me to put down my glass of wine because great ideas come from a fresh mind, a mind not tired.  There are many times when wine assists in my writing and thinking, but maybe he has something here.  Perhaps wine comes into the picture once I have an idea and have been successful of networking my idea with others to make my idea great!  Mr. Johnson says, "An Idea Is A Network", at first hesitant to believe this but thinking more about the process of an idea from infancy and watching it grow to a product or a service does require other minds to say, "Try this," or "Don't use that," or maybe "Do it this way and note the difference from the other?"  Networking is great for individuals excelling in their careers, how can it go wrong for networking your idea.  The tricky part, at least for me, is where are my ideas?    I know they are there, hiding behind the door quietly breathing not to give themselves away too quickly, waiting to yell, "Boo! You found me!"  Funny thing is, I don't find myself being startled, jumping back as I scream, "AUGH!"

Look ! Look! Look!

How irresistibly cute is this elephant?!  I have seen videos of elephant playing in a little water and a bit of mud, but never the ocean.  And not long will I be able to see elephants do what they do...close to their habitat, in a sanctuary.

Love Utah, Give Utah

Love Utah, Give Utah: Raise money online for your nonprofit or charity. Create an online fundraising page for your campaigns and events, or donate to any US registered nonprofit.

If you are like me, you love Utah. The mountains, the desert, the people - and the organizations that work so hard serving their communities-all make our state an awesome place to live, play and work.

On March 22, 2013 we have the chance to do something remarkable for our state: raise as much money as possible for the organizations throughout Utah that make our communities vibrant.  Across the state, in every town, people like me will be going online to loveUTgiveUT.org and giving to the charity or school of their choice.

It is 24 hours of unprecedented giving.  It is a way to shape the future of our state.  It is a way to join with thousands of others to stand together, for Utah.  Join me. On March 22, 2013, go online.  Point.  Click. Donate. Awesome!

www.loveutgiveut.org

Insert link to your Facebook page, twitter etc.

How it works:   All donations made on loveutgiveut.com are made to the Razoo Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization which permits donors to advise a regranting of their donations to other IRS recognized qualifying 501(c)(3). The Razoo Foundation will regrant 95% of its contribution to the qualifying organization as advised by the donor, retaining 2.9% for Razoo Foundation fees and distributing 2.1% to The Community Foundation of Utah to cover a small portion of the event hosting costs.

And This is How My Monday Played Out...

Have you ever woken up one morning, feeling fresh from a pretty good nights sleep and eager to submerge your body, mind and soul either into yoga, or running, or what ever your exercise fix may be?  Not soon after your feet touch the floor and you begin your routine of taking the dog out, starting a pot of coffee and just being for a few moments, you notice something is not right, you are not 100%.    Sick?  Stressed?  What is it?

Coffee was wonderful just as the quiet morning I was enjoying; the birds, chickens, dogs and horses trying to be louder than the traffic picking up on the roads.  My feet firmly on the mat, body aligned, hands at heart center I softly tell myself my intention for the mornings practice.  Yet, something is still not right; my breathing, why does it hurt?  No, its not my breathe, what is this?  Continue my practice because great prana heals everything, right?  Half way into my practice I start to form into one of my favorite poses (I have many favorites), on my knees, body tall, reaching back to hold onto my feet, arching my back into a perfect camels pose, breathing, ommm, so nice!  Wait, my god the pain just got worse.  Tight?  No, that's not it.  A pressure I don't remember ever having before.  Did someone strap a 300 pound brick to me?  Oh the pain.

Finished my practice a bit early because of my confusion.  Set myself up to study before my meeting and then class.  The pain does not leave, in fact it is getting stronger, more defined.  At 1pm I feel tears escaping my eyes, falling down my cheeks, and dripping onto the desk.  Reality is setting in, this could be big, epic, can I stop it from happening?  Is it happening?  No, no, I am putting too much thought into this, it can't be; sure I am 40 but I am healthy, I eat well, practice yoga, and when the weather and air are good I run and always up for a hike (even though it has been some time).  Nope, I am healthy so it has to be something else.  Has to.

This could be effects of a cold, the flu, stress.  But not that.  A few conversations, one quiet aggressive, with my love and it occurs to me that I am being selfish and afraid, afraid of money that will be invested, money I do not have at the moment, nor the insurance.  Getting a grip on my reality I go to the one place I didn't want to go.  Two an half hours later, two IV's attempts later, someone passing out, wires and stickers and numbers and... nothing.  I seem to be a healthy 40 year old.  So what is it?

Mac & Cheese

My first attempt at making homemade mac and cheese was a few hours ago.  The results were good; yet, my taste buds were ready for something creamer.  Don't get me wrong, it was easy to eat and I am excited to have more of it tomorrow.  My next adventure with this dish will be with more butter and possible more milk, and some other cheeses thrown in there too, like Gruyere or perhaps Swiss...I wonder how goats cheese would work in here. 

The recipe I followed was one by Rachael Ray and she just had one cheese listed, shard cheddar, so I went with one cheese (she did call for white, I used yellow...a bit rebellious).  Oh man, I should have taken a picture to add here, if you are lucky I will take one tomorrow of the leftovers.

Any other suggestions you have to make my next sauce more incredible  please feel free to comment.

I am no longer afraid of the kitchen!

Click Here to Laugh

Throughout this blog I have a few hilarious video links; view them anytime for a quick "pick-me-up".  

A long week wrapping up for me, at least for classes and my intern postion but not the papers and readings I have ahead of me this weekend; anyway, sipping on a glass of wine Thursday night, winding down by hanging out with Kaya, listening to her sigh deeply now and then because I am not giving her 100% of my attention, checking my emails and seeing what 'good' news there may be on the internet.  

My string of laughter, tears streaming down my face laughter  started with reading the article in OMG about the comment Michael J. Fox said about his son dating Taylor Swift, 

"No. No...Just back off," Fox said.  "I don't keep up  with it all.  But Taylor Swift writes songs about everybody she goes out with, right?"  

“Right,” they replied.

"What a way to build a career,” Fox said.The interviewer then asked Fox how he would react if Swift showed up to a Fox family dinner. 

"I wouldn’t even know who she was," he said, before agreeing it would dawn on him when the eventual breakup song hit the radio. "'Sam, You Piece of S--t.' Oh … that was the girl you brought home! 

                                            (Read the article here) 

Like I said, that is where it started.  A link to a video of the recent 70's Annual Grammy's showed Fey and Poehler cracking a joke about it (Things Get Sloppy), Mind you, it is just me, watching, giggling, laughing.  Without hesitation, I click on their opening video segment from the Grammy's (Fey and Poehler) and again, laugh streaming down my cheeks   The next video clip to watch is Wig and Ferrel on introducing nominees, (Wig and Ferrell), oh my more laughter too easily escapes from inside. Great talent people, great talent. 

But wait, there's more!  From there I click on another video of Ferrell and Galifianakis in a debate with children, (Ferrell and Galifianakis), how do they come up with this stuff?  I was laughing so much my wine was being neglected. 

There were no wrong clicks last night, people; all fun which lifted my spirits, not that my spirits were down, these funny people just lifted my spirits higher.  Link after link after link, laughter with each.  Tears of laughter mind you!  

I dare you to click on one and not laugh!  Double dog dare you... ;-) 

If you have any favorite funny videos, please tell me where to click, always in the mood for a great laugh! 

Light of the Bum

     Going from one website, quickly to another then another, following this link from that link to that one on the bottom of a page.  Whew, it is fun yet can leave me feeling dizzy or tired, but when I come upon a picture like this, it is easy to forget the time lost and realize to giggle and live in the now.  

     It all started when I was searching on HGTV's website to register for their 2013 Dream House as I have HGTV channel on the tv watching House Hunters International; the segment featured was of the Fussell's finding a home in Denmark.  Their background intrigued me as the husband has worked with non-profits for many years where he was able to travel the world on several projects.  His wife was always able to join him on each venture, they were fortunate enough to raise a family while living in several countries.   This is definitely what I want to do, I am yearning for this actually; with each semester under my belt and more knowledge of what I want my career to be like, non-profits is the path I am taking.  And to be able to take my education and passion worldwide is my future, near future.

     Anyway, searching for the Fussell's blog site, http://travelingmama.net/, I came upon it and found they have a twitter account; yes, I am now following her and hope she contacts me because I have many questions to ask her and her husband!  But before I found the right site, I came across fussel.tumblr.com where I found this hilarious picture.

     Without further ado, here is what you really came for...

Even you smiled!  ;-D

Cheers!