Aspire to everything Inspired

Have you heard?

 
From the US Postal Service blog, Beyond the Perf...

Did you know that a person who is honored on a U.S. postage stamp must have been deceased for at least five years before being considered?  The only exception is that a U.S. President may be honored with a postage stamp one year after his/her death.

Well.

The Postal Service is considering changing this policy and has invited the public to suggest living Americans who should be honored. 

Who would you suggest?

Want to vote for real too?  Suggestions are being accepted via Facebook and Twitter.

[Saw this item first via a Beyond the Perf subscription email from USPS.  It was just too cool not to share!]

Published!

Sometimes just knowing someone can have it's benefits... Like the time my friend L., who works for Creating Keepsakes magazine, called to ask if I had any photographs they could purchase for an article on Photoshop.

A few months later, I've actually got my work and a photo credit in the latest issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine:

Sweet!

I also happen to have a copy of this latest issue to share.  Double Sweet! 

Interested?  Just leave a comment...  If several people are interested, we'll pick one at random and call it a giveaway.  How exciting!

Notes From the Random Desk, No. 123

 Dear you,

Hi - How are things?  It's been that sort of day here -- where you look around and wonder what you're doing.  I've had conference calls all morning, first with Ireland, then Florida, and then with Mexico.  And I've been exchanging emails with colleagues in Morocco.  (Where the weather is reported to be "warm and sunny", in case you were curious.)

Yep, I'll admit that I think it's sort of cool to have this global neighborhood to work in.  :-)

Also today, I've read the news.  Twice.

• The U.S. advancing in the World Cup = Sweet!  We may not last long, but at least we're moving on. 
• The whole fired-General story?  Worth at least a fifteen minute conversation with a co-worker.  It's Business 101 really.  Would you expect to be able to publicly criticize your boss - in an international magazine, no less - and not feel like your job was at risk?  Um, no.
• Interesting that Prince Albert of Monaco is engaged to be married -- finally.  What do you suppose the odds are that we'll be invited to the royal wedding, hmmm??  Maybe we'd better make appointments with our favorite couturier, just in case.  I'll get Chanel and Dior on speed dial... 
• This review of the new movie "Knight and Day" is entertaining and sounds good.  Movie opens in the U.S. on Friday, if you don't already have plans. 
• And the fact that Sandra Bullock showed up at a Nashville benefit and received a standing ovation?  Well that's just cool.

Hmmm... I'm sure I need a standing ovation some days too...

I've also been busy updating client documents, scheduling meetings, planning projects, and eating chocolate.  While listening to U2 on my headphones, of course.  Because the folks in the cubicles next to me are having conference calls with Fort Lauderdale and Kuala Lumpur.

There's a lot going on around here.

Obviously.

Might be time for another bit of chocolate.

Certainly.

I've also been working on Kid Camp plots, reservations, and products.  And busy catching up with Tollipop, Cjane and Nie.  Because we have to stay connected, right?  And speaking of which, ... did you read what Winny had to say about her recent visit?

Definitely a keeper.

So what have you been up to?

Love, Me

P.S.

Did you read about the epic tennis match at Wimbledon on Wednesday?  Simply A M A Z I N G!  And I love that the other players at Wimbledon - like Roger Federer and Venus Williams - are glued to this amazing tennis match too.  Now that's cool.

Sale! at John Derian Company

If you're in the New York City area, my friends, hie thee over to 10 East 2nd Street!  Starting today and running through Saturday (May 20 - May 22), there's a sale on select merchandise at John Derian Co....

The chance to pick up one of those cool decoupage plates or platters for 30-50% off?  Sweet!

[Heard about it first via cool postcard from John Derian Co. If only I was going to be in the area!]

"It's raining, it's pouring..."

I wish I was home snoring....

Yes, dear friends, it's a rainy day here in Salt Lake City.  Since we live in a desert, the moisture is always welcome... but grey skies are always a dreary way to start a new week, don't you think?   

I've got all sorts of intuhresting posts and pics for this week, but of course, the pics are all sitting on the camera waiting to be downloaded. 

Of course.

And it's a grey-skied day.  And I'm at the office.  And I can't stop yawning.  {yawn}   We'll catch up tomorrow, 'kay?  Hope you had a Beautiful weekend!

Yesterday

Yesterday, I mailed a package to New Hampshire.  Made someone’s day in Brazil.  And went grocery shopping at World Market, where I bought ridiculous foods at ridiculous prices.

At work, I sat in on two conference calls that only sort of made sense.  Spent an hour grilling someone on data transformation processes.  And once again wore Business Casual Dress while everyone else wore jeans.  (What can I say?  I’m the new girl and I’m still hoping to make a good impression!)
(P.S. That's my new cubicle. I need to hang some photos too, don't you think?)

At home, I ate cold cereal for dinner.  Thought about a surprise package for a friend.  Read a blog post that made me cry.  And bought vintage postage stamps from an Etsy seller.

It’s a glamorous life, my friends, and it’s all mine. {bwah hah hah!}

How’s your week going?

of First Days and Butterflies

I'm starting a new job today.  Brand new employment - brand new industry - brand new commute - brand new everything!  It feels like the first day of school.  At a new school no less.  Butterflies in the stomach and all. 

Yep, that kind of first day.  "... gah!"

I'm nervous, but excited.  Just like going back to school after a long summer, I'm sure I'll slip back into the routine of going to work every day and soon it'll feel like I've been there for ages.

But in the meanwhile... 

I've been busy for the last few days trying to enjoy every possible moment of being 'schedule-less'.

    R Meet an old friend far afield for a long lunch
    R Morning donuts with a favorite pal
    R Meet my peeps to check out the new burger and cupcake spots
    R Catch a few matinee movies
    R Run important errands - like car repair, inspections, and registration
    R Spontaneous morning visit to see what's new at IKEA
    R Browse bookshops and spend afternoon reading new books at home
    R Sleep in and be sure to spend one last day in my pajamas
    £ Pick up dry cleaning
    £ Finish up a few projects for me and for The Shoppe
    £ Clean house
    £ Unpack from North Carolina trip

Obviously, I got all the Important Stuff done.  right?  Yep.  very important stuff.  And all the rest will somehow just fit into the week.  Just like it used to.

And now I'm off to work, to discover my new cubicle, meet new friends, and cultivate favorite new lunch spots.  Exciting stuff ahead! 

Should be a lovely week, don't you think?

Hmmm.... maybe there'll be a photo of my new desk later in the week... once I've 'moved in', of course.

Census 2010

So every ten years, we have the opportunity to participate in the US Census and be counted.  It's the cool thing to do!  However, for some reason, I don't recall completing the Census back in 2000.  (Maybe I wasn't 'Head of Household' or something?  Whatever.)  The important point is that I was rawther looking forward to completing the 2010 Census.  I was prepared for a pages long questionnaire of the random and trivial... so exciting!  What useful facts would they want to know about me and mine... ? 

Eye color?  Number of books in the household?  When did my first ancestor arrive in the USA?  Paper or Plastic?  Favorite five U.S. Presidents?  Number of windows in the house?  Preferred breakfast cereal(s)?

I'm sooo ready!  Bring it on!

Well. 

Imagine my disappointment to discover that there were only 10 questions -- including your name.  Whaaa??  Really?  That's it?   Doesn't some statician want to be able to report that there are 1,329,076 women between the height of 5'6" and 5'10" who know the difference between 'to' and 'too' and like to eat Frosted Mini-wheats for breakfast?  Anyone??

Hmphh.  I guess not.

How disapointing!

I suppose that explains why I don't remember doing the Census back in 2000 either.  {sigh} 

Well, at least now you know that it won't take long to complete.  And if you want, you can still tell me random facts and trivia about yourself.  Go ahead - I'll use it to make up some fascinating statistics!  The Census Bureau will be envious.

Random Friday... and a smattering of good Alice-advice

The week started with a totally random Monday and ends with a totally random Friday.  Okay by you?  Okay by me!

How has your week been?  I spent three days in bed.  By Thursday, I was feeling a little sad because of my miserable aching muscles, until I read Nie Nie's latest update.  Hmmm... Oh. Thankfully, at least my sore back could be addressed by 800 mg of Ibuprofen and 2 Tylenol (taken with a good meal, of course).  So I really don't have anything to complain about.  In fact, I'm almost absurdly grateful that I don't have a job right now either, because it means I could spend the better part of three days in bed and not feel bad about it.  A hidden blessing, for certain.

Of course, not having a job means you also don't always have to keep track of the days of the week.  For example, my brother David's birthday is Friday of this week (i.e., today).  However, I was thinking yesterday was Friday.  So of course, I called to wish him a very Happy Birthday... on Thursday.  LOL!  Thoughtful of me to be so very early with my felicitations, don't you think?

I've applied for a few jobs this week.  I think the most difficult part of looking for a new job is trying to find something that you want to do.  {sigh}  Here's a curious post that I didn't apply for:

Technical Writer in Neonatology.

I'm sure I'm qualified, except for the Neonatology part.  Oh, I could do a pretty good job of "the baby was tiny, but cute in a Gerber-sort of way.  4 lbs 5.2 oz and 12.5 inches long.  We attached a red thingmajig here and a blue thingamajig there, and..." Whatever, I don't think that's quite the Neonatology they had in mind.  LOL!  So...

I think what I'd really like to do for a while is have my own store like Urbanic or Merci.  I think that's something I would be BRILLIANT at and enjoy.  But where oh where do you come up with the funding for that sort of venture?   Hmmm...?  Fishing coins out of fountains, maybe?  (Really big fountains, obviously.) 

Last topic, and then we'll each get on with our day, 'kay?  Valentines.  I've had product ideas for months.  Months, I tell you!  And I haven't listed a single thing in The Shoppe.  {sigh}  Do you think it's too late?  I'm guessing it probably is, what with Valentines being just TWO WEEKS away.  (You knew that, right?  It's not a day-of-the-week-thing, so even I'm able to keep track.  You've got just TWO WEEKS...  Egads!)  So, having missed my window of opportunity, I still have some delightful ideas, but now they're just staring at me, half-finished.  Need to borrow one or two?  Just drop me a note...

And, P.S., consider this your reminder that Valentine's Day is just TWO WEEKS away! 

P.P.S. - Happy Birthday, David!... TODAY!

P.P.P.S. - That's all of our randomness for the moment.  Carry on with your day... and may it be lovely!

[Alice in Wonderland image collages Copyright 2004 by Linda Sunshine, from the book All Things Alice by Linda Sunshine.  That charming photo at right?  It's by me.]

What happened at Alt?

Are you even a little bit curious to know what it was like, what happened, what went down?  If you're like me, you're just as curious as could be!  Well, we just can't have that, can we.  Nope.  Read all about Alt here.

Now if we could just find someone to share what was in the Goodie Bag...