A Day of Sloth

It's horrible, but yesterday I told D, that could we just have this weekend be a weekend of nothing. The month of August created a very busy schedule for us and we have about a week's break before the busy routine of fall kicks in. (Granted, I love absolutely everything there is about autumn ... so I can't wait ... but still.) I just want a day way I can sit on my couch and watch movies, read magazines, read a book or two, drink a glass of wine, have some good cheese, bread and guacamole, maybe catch up on the DVR (I think I have three No Reservations waiting for me.) Alas, if I can do all of that in the two hour time frame that both K and O are taking a nap, I might get a little sliver of my ideal weekend this weekend.

Of course, there's nothing more enjoyable than cajoling a baby to eat his banana mango puree and helping a 4-year-old find a micro toy that daddy allowed him to get. So, I'll take that, too.

Almost Here ...

It's almost that time of year again. Yes, it's the Great Minnesota Get-Together - the Minnesota State Fair. Okay, it might be dorky that I get super excited to walk around and people-watch and maybe eat a little gluttonous fare. It's mostly about the people-watching ... and I heard this morning about a State Fair Bingo Card that was all about people-watching. Okay, some of the things are a little bit offensive, but most are hilarious and will probably be fairly easy to spot at the Fair.

I wonder if D will play with me? Most likely, he just look at me with a glare and say, "No way - you can play by yourself." If only K could read well enough to not have to read out loud. Then I'd totally convince him to play with me. It's probably not the most appropriate role-model parenting, but it would teach him the stealth art of people-watching without being obvious. A necessary skill, I think.

Oh, I can't wait. I'm not going to the fair until near the end ... but I've already got my list ready. Korean BBQ tacos, cheese curds, honey ice cream ... here I come! I won't eat for three days before I go, so that I can enjoy what I want. And here's to walking through the buildings and saying "No, thanks!" to all the crazy vendors. Yes ... I love it!!!

Passion for a Cause

I love it when people have passion for something they really believe in. When it just oozes out of their face they are so excited. Their voice laced with exuberance. It's what I look to find whenever I dabble in a new hobby or something. And when I think someone has a worthy cause that they are so enthusiastic about, I want to help them out as much as I can, too. (Be it time or money, which is why I have been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels for more than eight years now.)

Breast cancer is a very prevalent disease. In fact, it takes more than one hand for me to count everyone near and dear to me that has been afflicted. I am lucky, because I know more survivors than people who've died with it. I've participated in Race for the Cure since my senior year of college. (And I actually raced that year in downtown Indianapolis -- I was ambitious!) So, when I co-worker was beaming from ear-to-ear about how proud she was of her daughters raising funds to participate in the 3-Day, I of course wanted to learn more. Her daughters came up with the idea to create a calendar celebrating the fight for a cure.

Her daughters' passion for battling the cancer that their mom faced is clearly strong and never ending. So, I wanted to pass on their efforts to you. You can learn more about their calendar at http://www.posingforpink.com/. The calendar itself might not be your cup of tea, and they did get some interesting backlash from a local metro paper around Mother's Day from some feminist groups saying this was not the way to raise funds for a charitable organization. However, I think it's their ambition to go out and find a way to champion their cause and have their voices heard. I hope that we all can find something that can drive us like they did.

Stop and Smell the Flowers

This past weekend when we were in the city of Duluth, we took a walk down Canal Park. K made us stop to smell the flowers. Literally. And then he talked about the flowers all night. How great they smelled and asking me which ones I thought smelled the best. It was such a smack in the face, a clear reminder that we all should take things a little slower to appreciate the beauty we are faced with every day. I love how children really are the best reminders of what makes life worth living.

Every day when I look at my two boys, I am amazed with the presents they provide me each day. K has this magical talent that he can make O laugh deeper, louder and faster than anyone else. I love that they each have a brother. I think sisters can have a tight bond (I have two) but there is something deeply rich and amazing about brothers. They will probably be competitive, but I think the bond will be stronger than anything else. (While I'd like to think my bond to them as their mother would be the strongest thing ... I know they will share secrets and passions that they will hide from me, and I will just have to be satisfied with having the second strongest bond possible.)

I look forward to each new day and the treasures they will help me discover.

Be Aggressive, A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E

Okay, I will be the first one to say that I am not necessarily the loudest person at the table. I'm an introvert and I like to observe, come back and provide recommendations. I need to process. I don't find much value in talking just to talk. Unfortunately, assertiveness and aggression are rewarded in corporate America. And I get. You want to make sure your voice is heard, that you are bringing your ideas to the table ... but do we have to bulldoze over everyone else to ensure that happens. Can we respect the fact that not everyone can provide an idea instantly and that some of us need to think about it before we have a POV. Not at the Big Company.

It's interesting, lately we've heard a lot from leaders about how they are disappointed that we think everyone needs to fit a specific mold to be successful at Big Company. That there is this prototype for the ideal employee. And so the leaders have stated they are going to be more focused on the end results and not the journey. Hell, we realize, we all take different paths, but if the end results deliver ... then who cares if you take the interstate or the scenic route?

When I got home tonight, D told me that his dad happened to be working on a project with some fellow folks from Big Company in a consulting capacity. One of the people mentioned they knew me ... and then proceeded to tell him that it would be great if he could coach me to be more aggressive. Now, he didn't disclose this persons name to D so that I wouldn't have any inappropriate animosity toward this person ... and they apparently know what my children look like because that's how they confirmed that I was the same person they both knew.

Of course, now, I'm trying to rack my brain on who this person could be because I would like them to give me the feedback directly. And without knowing what I have worked with this person on, or how they know me ... it's interesting feedback to give to my father-in-law. In fact, I think it is wildly inappropriate. He is in the scope of my personal world ... and how do they have the audacity to speak of my professional in that realm. They have no idea what my relationship is with my father-in-low and have stepped grossly out of bounds. D, of course, thinks I am blowing this completely out of proportion ... and says that he has told me this for a while, that I need to be more assertive with saying what I want at work ... and you know, they were probably just trying to help me.

BUT I'M AN ADULT ... and you just went to daddy to "counsel" me? I'm sorry, I know I'm flying off the handle on this one, but I am livid.I just can't believe it. I guess it's the risk you play in small city that people will talk about you. It just adds to my list of self-reflection lately. Do I need to go to an industry where I don't have to worry about people providing feedback about me to people outside the situation. Did this person ever give me the feedback directly.

So, I'm trying to determine next steps. I think I know what I'm going to do (besides calendar surf to see who in the hell could have possibly been meeting with my father-in-law). Who knows, maybe it will backfire, but maybe it will show that I can be assertive, I just think it's a waste of energy being assertive when it's not necessary.