MoxieLife

Looking for Friends

Oh, the pathetic call of a middle aged woman (is 38 middle aged?) I am starting to really use my Flickr account and I thought I would see if any of you did and we could be friends/contacts. With so many options online of where to spend your time I find that I have to be selective. I am adding Flickr to that selection

I am not, by any means, a good photographer. My brother, who had his MFA in photography would loudly say that I wasn't. Oh the encouragement of older siblings. BUT I do love to take a visual record of my life and that is what is so fun about digital cameras anyway. The quick response to document what is going on.

So, if you are interested please be my friend.

Cleansing the Body: Or another crazy idea

My sister, who is here to help clean out my dad's house, decided we should do a day of fasting. Just for fun. Whoopee! So, we are doing this Master Cleansing fast today. Basically you drink a concoction of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water all day. We, of course, will only be doing this today and then will eat a fabulous dinner.

Why do people feel the need to fast? I understand the religious reasons, but what compels people to not eat for an extended length of time? I guess they are all looking at it as a either a quick way to lose weight or a way to rid the body of toxins. All I know is that I am a bit hungry for the carrot cake I made last night and it is a good idea to be close to the bathroom!

What to Wear to the Revolution: A High School Graduation Speech

"A revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall."

Che Guevera would know.

Whether you want people to stop wearing bell bottoms or you want to overthrow a repressive government, every fight is the same.

It's up to our generation to fight the fight.

The Depression Generation is too old.

The Baby Boomers are too full of themselves and stuck in tie-die.

Generation X is just a bunch of slackers.

So, it's up to us, Generation Y, to start the revolution. And we had better know what to wear.

Step 1: A good pair of tight fitting but comfortable jeans, to allow for maximum range of motion, comfort, and of course style. In these jeans, educate ourself and others about every aspect of the idea of the revolution. Why is it so important that this change take place, and how are you going to make it happen.

Step 2: A comfortable and stylish pair of lace up tennis shoes. It's important to be able to move around quickly - no silly heels or complicated buckles. In these shoes, stomp your feet! If you're starting a revolution you're angry and you want change now!

Step 3: A clean white button up shirt. Sleeves up or down, either way. As a revolutionary leader you should look the part. Your people should trust in your ability to lead, gather like-minded people to fight for your cause.

Step 4: A pair of large wickedly stylish sunglasses. It's important to also carry a backup pair in case they break. In your wickedly stylish sunglasses march the revolution to the people in power. Let them know that they are outnumbered and the people want change and they want it now.

Step 5: Leg Warmers. These have no purpose other then being a fashion statement. You've won a revolution! Wear something to set yourself apart. You are a revolutionary leader after all.

Now that you know how to start and win a revolution. And most importantly you know what to wear.

Barack Obama said, "Nothing worthwhile in this country has ever happened unless somebody somewhere stood up when it was hard; stood up when they were told no you can't, and said yes we can."

Today I turned 18, yes, it's my birthday, and I registered to vote.

The first revolution I fight will be to elect a new president.

The definition of revolution is change.

Our generation can make it happen.

I'm ready, are you?

Graduates, Pumpkins, Poverty, Death & What to Wear to the Revolution: a weekly wrap up

I thought I would try to do a Friday Roundup of the random things that came up throughout the week. I don't know if this will be a weekly feature, but it is something that could be kind of fun and show the odd progression of my mind and conversations.

• Graduation Celebration at Eureka Springs Unitarian Universalist Fellowship: My Sparkly Girl was honored with three other graduates with a dictionary. It was an odd moment because she is the only one who has participated in Sunday School this year and the teacher only gave her the dictionary. The rest were kind of slammed "you snooze, you lose" was the comment. They all looked a little dazed on the pedestal.

• Pumpkin Cages: I had to build cages around my pumpkins because my darling chickens ate the seeds that I had planted previously. Oh, if I didn't like their eggs so much I would be more angry.

• Poverty: So, apparently, I live below the poverty line. I knew that, but I just never think about it because we chose to live in rural America as an experiment and live richly although without much cash. The idea that time is more valuable has come up a lot recently and I find time to be priceless.

• Dad in a Box (An Actual Jack in the Box): We picked up my dad and I have to tell you that remains look like sand. I thought it would be more like ashes, but it is like a day at the beach. A really small sad beach.

• How to deal when someone you know has someone die: Well, this is for a longer post, but I am writing a pamphlet. I think we are clueless and need to better meet the needs of those we know and love. My answer, write a pamphlet. I'll let you know when I get that done!

• What to Wear to the Revolution: It is the tradition of my daughters school to have every graduate (all 7 of them) give a speech at graduation. My Sparkly Girl chose to give a speech about What to Wear to the Revolution and it was just priceless. I will have her post it or I will and you can see the humor behind her somewhat cutting ideas. She wants change and she isn't afraid to fight for it, but she wants to look good!

Have a lovely weekend! That's a wrap.

A Big Day Tomorrow: She's 18 & Out of School

Our little Sparkly Girl will be turning 18 and graduating high school. I sent her dad to the store to pick out a few cards for her and he called and said he was just crying in the card aisle and couldn't find anything that said the right things.

We practiced attachment parenting up until, well we still are. She is close to our hearts and hips at most times, and it is a huge change to even think about letting her go.

Although we tell her that is what we want, we know that a little bit of us doesn't believe it.

So, a toast to our little pumpkin who is growing up so lovely.

Goodness Two Good UU's

Ric Masten was a friend of my family (my parents, really). And I am so sad to hear that he has passed away. I am sure many people have been married to his music "Let it be a dance we do..." He, and his ex-wife, were wonderful caring people and will be missed by the UU community. This is a lovely write up about Ric. And of course the second is my Dad.

If you aren't aware of Ric's music or work look at your hymnal tomorrow and you will find some wonderful songs written by him.

Death of a Client

OK, I took three days off to deal with the death of my father and in that time I lost two clients. Can you imagine. I work freelance so I get it, but life happens. I am OK with it because I don't want clients who don't understand the impact of death on a person, but again... great timing.

Goodness what kind of society do we live in?

Jack Francis Wolven 1928 - 2008

I wrote my fathers obituary that has appeared in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and will appear in the local papers, but I thought I would share it here.

JACK FRANCIS WOLVEN, a resident of Holiday Island, AR was born February 5, 1928 in Detroit, MI, a son of Edith (Cook) Wolven. He departed this life Saturday, May 10, 2008 in Holiday Island at the age of 80.

Mr. Wolven served in the Korean War as a Corporal with the Army and was honored with a Korean Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars and the UN Service Medal. After returning home he entered California State Long Beach and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Education in 1955.

He then went onto teach for 33 and a half years in the Garden Grove Unified School District in California, spending most of that time teaching gifted and talented elementary students, sharing his love of Shakespeare, chess and the joy of learning.

In retirement, he was a devoted volunteer, serving his local children’s literacy program, working with the AIDS Team Ministry through his church, and actively engaging in the Orange County Democratic Club. He was also an active member of the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church in Costa Mesa, CA. His true passions were people and politics, which he was able to share with readers as a weekly columnist for a local newspaper. He was only censored once for a column supporting the ban of handguns.

On December 22, 1956, he was united in marriage with Gladys “Poppy” Wolven who preceded him in death less then one year ago. He is survived by two daughters, Ada E. Murdock and husband John E. Murdock, of Anaheim, CA and Jacqueline F. Wolven and husband Gregory D. Goodman of Eureka Springs, AR; one brother William Eldridge and wife Carol Eldridge of Santa Ana, CA; three granddaughters, Sarah Bell Murdock of Huntington Beach, CA, Kathleen Stella Murdock of Anaheim, CA, and Paige Lorrabeth Goodman Wolven of Eureka Springs, AR; one grandson, Sean Stuart Lerner of Walnut Creek, CA and a host of beloved friends and family.

His mother, one daughter, Amy Louise Wolven and one son, Christopher Vincent Wolven, preceded him in death.

A memorial service is planned for Sunday, May 25, 2008 in which a tree will be planted in his honor. Memorial Donations may be made to the Holiday Island Fire Department as a thank you for the many visits made during their last years. Online condolences may be sent to the family at nelsonfuneral.com.

Sad Day

I haven't been posting because my father passed away on Saturday and although we knew this was happening I am just so sad. I loved him so much and I can't believe he is gone. I am writing the obit and it is just crushing. When I am done I'll post that and the mythic story behind his actual death. Really quite incredible for this die hard Atheist. Love to all of you.

More Ideas Then Time? A Solution

I have thousands of ideas that percolate around in my brain. I used to think that I would remember them all, but now I realize that I am not that good (or I am just getting older). I hate though that they disappear. Even if they never get acted upon I like to know that I thought of something fantastic. I am now working through a way to keep ideas. Something simple. Something low tech. Something cheap.

There are important things to consider: ideas come at any time, ideas do not have to be fleshed out, is indexing ideas important, what happens when and idea becomes a project, and how do I store my ideas are just a few.

I have three concepts for idea storage that I am working through. I don't know which is better, and I have not tried any of them. I hate to commit to a system only to abandon it for a better/different one in a month. How do you keep track of your great ideas?

My Current Idea Ideas:

Idea 1: 3x5 cards - Each idea, as it happens, is written on an index card. These cards are then indexed into groups within an index card box with tabs. Further indexing could be done, but may not be necessary.

Pro: 3x5 cards are cheap, easy to get, portable, nice to write on, and easy to file.

Cons: Could be hard to put source material with index card (where would the article that inspired the idea go?). Not very glamorous in a high tech age. Would I really put only one idea on each card or would they end up as scratch paper?

Idea 2: Circa Notebook from Levenger. This would have tabs and I could add pages as I saw fit to each tab adding to easily expanding a concept.

Pros: Can use any paper and ideas can be be longer then an index card. Source material can be punched and placed right along side the ideas. Ideas can be moved from "idea to project" within the same notebook. Comes in a variety of sizes.

Cons: Expensive. The initial set up is very expensive. It would need to be a commitment because the punch and paper are expensive. Although you can use anything after you have the initial set up. Worry that the pages would slip out.

Idea 3: 3 Ring Binder: Write on any piece of paper and place in a 3 ring binder in the correct category.

Pros: Cheap, easy to use, have all the pieces at my disposal. Can move ideas around, they can be limitless in size, and any paper can be punched and put in the book.

Cons: Paper is really big. Is it practical to carry this kind of book around with you? Does it feel to academic?

This may seem like a ridiculous problem to some people, but I literally have ideas that I want to capture and go back to at some point. I have tried journals, my Palm, and random scraps of paper and those aren't working. I have book ideas, work concepts, craft ideas, party ideas, recipes, art concepts, installations, letters, etc. I realized several years ago that my real gift was ideas. I am a master planner, but I am even better at creating new ideas... so if I can't capture them I am losing what is most important.