4x4 Beauty...

The beautiful "urban Christmas tree" you see pictured above was described over the weekend as a "ghetto Christmas tree". I'm still smarting a little from my house guest's ignorant comment but what can you do? There really is no accounting for taste or a lack of imagination!

39 Minutes To Spare...

As I tucked myself into bed this evening I reflect on all of my accomplishments from the day...
1) Informational interview with a delightful retired social worker and her cats!
2) Played receptionist at the senior center and made great strides in the New York Time's cross word puzzle while there.
3) Researched graduate programs
4) Watched Glee.

And just as I was about to flip off the lights I realized I had forgotten my newest to do task "Stay true to my promises"...

So here I am a daily update. By the way the books I decided to start reading are as follows
- Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann (I already read about 3/4s of it but left it on a plane. This new copy I'm not letting go of!)
- Paula by Isabel Allende. (Apparently I like memoirs written by women when their daughters are gravely ill. Last year at this time I was reading The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. Merry Christmas!)

I will post tomorrow!!

I'm Trying, I'm Trying...

It's always a mistake to make promises in absolutes. For example, in my last entry I promised daily updates on my new life of leisure -- that post was one whole week ago. From now on I promise to not make promises I don't intend to keep and at the time I had absolutely no intention of actually writing daily. I just said that to appease you. Apologies. But I've grown up and I am now ready to make a vow to write daily.

Moving on. So that you all don't worry I can tell you that one week into unemployment and I'm feeling pretty good. I spent some quality time with the seniors last week. Me and my troup of elders experiencing the early stages of memory loss wrote a poem or two, sang along to some lovely banjo strumming, and even line danced a bit. Outside of my time at the senior center I've been so busy brunching, lunching, and feeling festive I've had barely a moment to reflect on my current state of borderline destitution (I jest, I jest. I'm collecting unemployment people so clearly I'm rolling in cash!).

Now that the novelty of not having to sit at a desk for 8 hours a day has started to wane I'm ready to really take advantage of this valuable period of freedom and start accomplishing and exploring in ways I can't when I'm bogged down with 40 hours of employment. Perhaps each day I can add one thing to my to do list (back to that failed to do list from my last post!). Today I can start simple...

- Start reading a book that doesn't have to do with the following:
old people, aging, psychology of aging, dementia, depressed caregivers, happy caregivers, medicare...

This sounds do-able. After I select an appropriate literary masterpiece I will update my loyal , no matter how miniscule, readership.

Until next time -- and by next time I clearly mean tomorrow!
Your Friendly Neighborhood Old Lady In Training

Putting the "Fun" in "Funemployment"...

Today is my first real day of unemployment. After returning beauty products I could not afford to Nordstrom and Macy's I had lunch with a friend. Over lunch he asked what I was filling my day of leisure with. I told him that after we ate I was planning on taking my laptop (my new laptop!!!!) to Starbucks to file for unemployment benefits, pretend to look busy, and make eyes at the newest barista (baristo?) in hopes of winning his affection. This friend told me that whenever he goes to Starbucks he ends up making to-do lists and that I should do the same. As I have nothing better to do I decided to give it a shot.

Here's what I have so far...

1) File for unemployment benefits. Status: Complete.
2) Pretend to be busy. Status: Complete. (note: If looking busy could be an occupation I'm pretty sure I would have no trouble finding a job)
3) Make eyes at barista in hopes of winning his affection. Status: Utter failure. (note: first and foremost, pretending to be busy is incredibly time consuming. Between furrowing my brow, staring intently at my computer screen, and occassionally checking my iPhone for very important fake messages there is seldom a moment for "eye making". Second and secondmost, he seems of the "all business at work" mindset. Clearly we might have some compatibility issues.)
4) Add tasks to my "to-do" list. Status: Outlook does not look good.

So that's day 1 of what I had hoped would be "funemployment". My readers will be updated daily as this adventure continues.

Just Another Statistic...

I am joining an elite group comprised of 8.6% of the Washington State labor force on November 19, 2010. Yes, that's right, I am living the new "American Dream" -- I've been laid off.

With this new found free time expect postings galore!

In Training To Be This...

I watched the delightful and inspiring Run Granny Run today. It follows Doris Haddock who at age 90 walked across America to raise awareness of campaign finance corruption and at age 94 ran for New Hampshire's US Senate position. I laughed and of course I cried - but please don't let my tears discrourage you. It was by no means a tear jerker. I'm what they call an "easy cry". Anyways, after watching the movie I wanted to learn a little more about Doris "Granny D" Haddock and I came across this quote of hers...


"You have to keep the young adventurer inside your heart alive long enough for it to someday re-emerge. It may take some coaxing and some courage, but that person is in you always - never growing old."

This is a sentiment I want to keep in mind as I immerse myself further and further into "real life" as a young adult. I don't want to get bogged down by the rules, pragmatism, and propriety that I am asked to comply with daily.

Anyways that's my little poorly written soap box speech for the day.

Happy Friday!

Hello, It's Me...

Before I begin this real, honest-to-goodness post I shall apologize for my laziness. It's been weeks since I put anything up, I know. I could tell you that my computer broke (which it did) and I could tell you that I've been frightfully busy (which is almost true) but I'd rather skip it and just say "I'm sorry". Onward, ho!

Admittedly my world is a little small and so when I make this announcement I know that it's gravity will not be quite as monumental for the reader as it is for this author but the announcement will be made nonetheless.
I have my very first interior styling gig!!!!!!!!!
By gig, of course I mean a completely volunteer based assignment with an incredibly limited budget. The Senior Center I volunteer at is starting a new day program for people in the early stages of memory loss. As is the case with any normal 25-year-old, memory loss is a pet interest of mine and so I am helping organize the open house and hopefully facilitating the artistic expression portions of the semimonthly group (cross your fingers that my "glitter-as-therapy" activities are approved!). Anyways, before any of this can happen the cinderblock and forest green basement space that we will be utilizing must be transformed into a coccoon of calm, comfort, and coziness. *Cue my eager squeals of "I CAN DO IT! I CAN DO IT! I CAN DO IT". Shockingly, no one else at the center has any desire to scour Goodwill, estate sales, and craigslist in an effort to achieve this makeover and so do it I shall!!

This being a low budget (albeit glamorous) volunteer project there are limitations and they are as follows:
1) This arrangement will need to be easily set up and put away. The center uses each of its rooms for every activity you can imagine and so the space is not a dedciated one.
2) I have $100 to make magic happen.

Let's be honest, #2 is a piece of cake. #1 on the other hand is a little tricky but I'm up for the challenge of turning something that looks like this...


Into something that looks like this...

or this...

or this...

So those might be a reach. The point is inspiration is flowing and I'm ready to get shopping!!!!

Updates shall be forthcoming!