TGIF.........Need I Say More

It's Friday! Let the Hallelujah chorus begin. No work, No homework for Zoom and I can actually sleep past 5:30 tomorrow morning. After a long and stressful week I am ecstatic for the weekend.  I'm headed to San Diego to discuss a future project in the making.  But it will not be work.......especially when it's with an old friend.

While the words San Diego are relaxing enough, I ran across this photography collection from Antony Spencer.  I was instantly enamored. What amazing moments this man has captured.  I longed to be at each location he has ever shot.  Go to his site and check out his portfolio! If you can't make it to San Diego this weekend, I have a feeling it will transport you to a place with less stress and its a good reminder of how beautiful and amazing this planet is.  

Oh Boy! Girls are sure opinionated....

In the past few months I read this article.  It's thought provoking to say the least. It's about woman and if they truly can have it all by ANNE-MARIE SLAUGHTER.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-cant-have-it-all/309020/

Today I read this article.  My eyebrows raised a little as I noticed I had an opinion too.   Was I referenced in this article? Not directly by name, but by position or role in life (working woman, mother etc).

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/82586.html

(The Reference to the entire Marie Claire article is below)
 http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/inspirational-women/hillary-clinton-farewell-3

Then I saw this on Facebook.  (Taken without permission from a friend quoting her sister-in-law)

I think the problem feminists have with Romney is that they don't value the role of mothers enough. It's like they think that being a stay at home mom and using our innate gifts as nurturers is degrading. Of course women can do whatever men can do but the most important job we have is nurturing and raising the next generation. I would be glad to have a president who acknowledges that and values mothers and the extremely important job they have.

..and then read about Eva Longoria's tweet on Twitter.

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/eva-longoria-apologizes-controversial-retweet/story?id=17510004#.UIBaO8VX1C8

A political battle may ensue with these two references to candidates.  Tis' soon November.

However, it seems to me, that we as woman are not on the same page.  It seems we cannot even agree to disagree without creating animosity (yes that rhymes if read in rhythm and I'll take credit for it.)  Despite our political beliefs, most woman acknowledge that this life is hard whatever we are dished out.  Hillary Clinton has never been a stay at home mom of 5 children and Ann Romney has never been Secretary of State for the United States.  I've never heard either of them whine but I'd be okay with it if they did.  Both are hard jobs and I never want to judge another woman not being in her shoes.  We as women should support each other in every role and not paint each other as idiots for believing a certain way.  Aren't we all wanting to do our best in any role?    You don't have to be a feminist to fight for women's rights.  You can be a stay at home mom and understand lower wages of working woman.  You can be a working woman and value the role of mothers.

Goodness Gracious! We as women are all opinionated.  I just wish this brought us closer to understanding each other vs. pushing us apart on the political spectrum and elsewhere.  So please, don't judge or insult me by the many hats I do wear.  I am doing it all but am not having any of it.......But then again, I don't have the choice.

3 Tips for Mass Texting

I am single therefore I am forced to sext I mean text.  However I admit to being the worst communicator via my phones text messaging system.  I'm lazy or am just too busy/uninterested to bother.  It also could be my life long problem of not being a flirt or the fact that it takes me minutes to backspace my way through all the corrections my clumsy little fingers make while typing on a 3x5 index card. However I admit to having compiled a few mass texts (not to be confused with spam) and sending to multiple recipients as an intended personalized message.  It's an easy way to express sentiment to multiple people without spending the time or energy to do so.

As a recipient of these mass texts myself (the recent numbers and awareness is the direct result of being on the prowl) I am largely disappointed with the content of such messages (I am not as critical of mass texts from close friends and family vs. the ever so popular single man). There is an art to mass texting and all men are not currently aware of such skills. A future course in dating 2.0 possibly?  Here are a 3 things I noticed that made them devoid of any pertinence to me.  Mass texting isn't wrong, there are just social etiquettes and finesse that need to be done as to make every person feel important. (Please read How to Win Friends and Influence People if you have no clue why this would be important).


1.  If you are......Shout it from the rooftops!  Mass texts don't need to be personalized but for heaven sakes, allow the reader to understand it was meant for multiple people.  Include pluralities such as 'you all' or 'hey friends' or "we're meeting at'.  If you want to disguise the lack of personalization then spend a little effort in forming sentences that will make her/him think it was absolutely meant specifically for her/him while still sending it to a few others to maximize your effort.

2.  If I wanted a tweet I'd follow you on Twitter. These are the dead giveaways of mass texts.  Absolutely 100% no personalization.  Why would I care what you were doing at any given moment without me.  Twitter allows us all to stock our favorite people appropriately while texting is designed to let people know you have given them your number for a reason.  Send the mass text with imitations of personalization.  For example, "Eating at the Crab Cooker" is a tweet.  "At the Crab Cooker, wish you were here" can make a girl's heart swoon......even more than one.

3.  Respond back if they respond to you.  This is truly fostering a relationship with that individual.  Again, if you went through the effort to fake sincerity than this is not the time to prioritize between responses.  Your intent was to elicit emotion wasn't it?  Continue to communicate.  If you don't want this relationship....then never text that person again.

I hope this helps in your endeavour to text.  Especially if you are single soul. Heaven knows we all need help. By the way, this is meant to be funny.  However, it is still 100% true.

Surf Shack Favorite

My dream car is a 1943 Jeep Willy Wagon. The thought of restoring one and driving it to the supermarket everyday makes me giddy.  Imagine my excitement and inspiration when I came across this post off Remodelista's web site of which is one of my favorite surfing spots for ideas and inspiration.  A restoration of an old 1959 bus! Who needs an airstream when you can toss down 75K on this (no actual knowledge of cost or specifics disclaimer inserted here).  The before and after pictures are worth a peek in you're interested. (click here for details)  The possibilities of my Willy wagon just became even more dreamier.

Are bloomers really appropriate to put out to dry?

Truthfully I'm not sure what bloomers are...whether they are fashion or underwear, if they are modest or not and if they really are apropos to air out in the open for others to see.  The fact is when they are, it leaves you vulnerable and very much aware that you are exposed, naked even, with the world seeing things that may or may not be appropriate.

....And yet it's bloomers I think of versus the ever so popular thong when thinking about telling my life story (could this represent how protective I am figuratively with my laundry). Before I explain, I am well aware that my life story isn't yet complete and I'm hoping I'm not quit half way to death, however the thought of being exposed, vulnerable to the elements of truth, of my life up to this point, really made me think about how much we do actually tell people. If we 'go there' so to speak.  Do we tell the truth and risk offending others within this narrative?  Do we withhold the entirety of the experience protecting ourselves and others of any judgement that may come?  Do we air our dirty laundry and chance that the wind won't blow it in every possible direction. Is it about being honest with ourselves or respectful of the details of these life experiences?

Pretty heavy thoughts I know but as I venture on to new projects I am suddenly feeling there is a line that I cannot cross. That all the details relevant in personal history shouldn't be told.  That these experiences may be sensitive to others, even affecting current and possible future relationships, and that my humanity/honesty is less important than the feelings and/or response of others.

What are your thoughts?  Is this selective censorship?  How is the picture painted if we don't disclose all of the details of our past?  Can others still learn and understand our lives without them?  Point being, I am suddenly aware that I have much that hasn't been told.  That I have withheld many pieces of my story.  Maybe my laundry is already dry. Maybe it's not. Maybe if I do put my bloomers on the line, feeling the breeze will be exhilarating.  Maybe it's more work and cleanup than may be needed.