My car
Perhaps an odd thing, to be inspired by a '95 Buick LeSabre, but I love it.
Mainly because I love things with unexpected character, which my Pearl possesses in abundance.
Firstly, she is a complete and total granny car, white exterior, a very thoroughly blue leather and faux-wood paneling interior, it even came with a box of Kleenex. Also, the height of nineties luxury. Not only does my car have passenger heat control and motorized seats, it has the most awesome cassette player I have ever seen. It can skip through songs and flip sides automatically. No discman I ever had could do that.
But asides from her physical character, I think my favorite thing about my car is that one day, After packing her trunk to the brim, some wire to the trailer hitch got disconnected. The result is that the back-left blinker didn't work. Instead my clock blinked. Only when I had my foot on the break. When I didn't, all was normal, as it was once my dad reconnected the wire.
Character. TBS has it right.
Gold star to anyone who drives a granny car.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Musings in memorium
I drove by a 9/11 memorial today.
It's is so odd to think that was ten years ago. Something that has changed so much of my politically formative years must have been sooner, right?
At the same time, I remember the exact moment in my seventh-grade class when my peers and I walked into the large multi-purpose room to see teachers crowded around a television screen, and five minutes later when the teachers explained why they had left their posts. Perhaps it's because my main teacher had the foresight to make us write where we were and what we felt. I still have that essay, with the little American flag doodled in the top corner. And seventh grade feels lifetimes away, unlike the event that happened then.
One of the recent musings, I've had occurred one day when I picked up a book with a New York skyline, and realized the two towers dominating that particular picture were no longer there.
I didn't have anyone but a distant relative in New York, so the whole thing is oddly detached to me. I knew that even as I sat at home after school, compelled into watching the news. I've experienced more of aftershocks in airport security more than any other part of the event.
So I guess the best way I can commemorate is by thinking, and wondering, and hoping the people who have lost their lives due to this day a decade ago are safely ensconced in heaven.
It's is so odd to think that was ten years ago. Something that has changed so much of my politically formative years must have been sooner, right?
At the same time, I remember the exact moment in my seventh-grade class when my peers and I walked into the large multi-purpose room to see teachers crowded around a television screen, and five minutes later when the teachers explained why they had left their posts. Perhaps it's because my main teacher had the foresight to make us write where we were and what we felt. I still have that essay, with the little American flag doodled in the top corner. And seventh grade feels lifetimes away, unlike the event that happened then.
One of the recent musings, I've had occurred one day when I picked up a book with a New York skyline, and realized the two towers dominating that particular picture were no longer there.
I didn't have anyone but a distant relative in New York, so the whole thing is oddly detached to me. I knew that even as I sat at home after school, compelled into watching the news. I've experienced more of aftershocks in airport security more than any other part of the event.
So I guess the best way I can commemorate is by thinking, and wondering, and hoping the people who have lost their lives due to this day a decade ago are safely ensconced in heaven.
Friday, September 9, 2011
On the glories of email
So, I'm a big fan of email. I've never been one to talk on the phone much, except to convey necessary information. If its too long or complicated for a text, I'll call, but usually prefer to just leave a message.
I think this has a lot to do with the fact that if your brain checks out when you're on the phone, there's really no way to cover your bum. Just an awkward silence in the airwaves. And when there's not a physical person present when you're communicating, this seems to happen a lot. Someone should research that.
And unless I have a specific business-type reason to call (I can be very professional if I have a clear reason and goal, I promise) this phenomena usually happens. It makes my voice mails a positive treat.
"Hi, its Anna, so I'm making dinner and... its going to be really good, because it smells great in here. But yeahhhhhh, I'm not actually calling you about that *insert the silence of a mental flatline here.* Oh, sorry, I just spaced out a little. Ignore it. Yeah, hmm, oh! I just wanted to tell you I saw a commercial for a T.V show featuring Jim Caviezel, and it reminded me of that Andy Samberg song you like so much, and whenever you listen to it I yell out 'Jim Caviezel.' Oh, this is Anna, I may not have said that. Anyway, that's what I had to tell you, so bye!"
*Note, this is a fictional, but not exaggerated account. Witnesses can be brought forth on request. Also, the song in which I am referring to is "Iran" by Andy Samberg and Adam Levine from Maroon 5, from Saturday Night Live.
And now that my post has completely gone off-topic, I believe my point has been proven. You can't go off topic with email -- or if you do, you can edit. So, I'm going to share some tips to make email much more effective than my telephone skills.
I dealt with a lot of emails in my college career, and as section editor at my Alma Mater's paper, I dealt with everything from communications with writers, press releases, and the occasional hounding someone about deadlines. It was interesting, being the boss, and it means I can share some pet peeves bosses have.
-- Please identify yourself. I don't know who ponydancer5643 is, sorry. Most emails let you set up signatures that contain contact info, which will automatically be included at the end of emails. I had several, one for dealing with newspaper business, one I'd use when talking to my tutees (ie. the people I tutored), and one for emailing my student org. This allows you to give out exactly how much contact information each group needs (for example, my tutees didn't need to know where my office was in the newspaper, and so on).
-- Please spell-check. Especially if you are in the English business. Even if you are not, most emails have built in spell-checkers, so there is no excuse for misspellings. If the email is of a professional nature, have someone else read it (even if you do know your grammar). The second opinion will help make your correspondence polished. Also, make sure you check the email and the subject line. The subject line could be the only thing your recipient reads, so make it correct and accurate -- then they may read the rest of the email.
--If you are contacting someone to ask a favor (like that they consider publishing a press release), make it easy for them. Get right to the point, include files that may help the person in attachments (instead of going on and on in the body of the email), and make it easy and quick to read. Also, make sure you are contacting the right person. I still get press releases, and I haven't been an editor for about six months.
-- Make email concise. This kind of ties into the making things easy for your recipient. Start with a brief introduction of yourself (if you don't know the person), then a one-sentence summary of your subject (which should also be clearly stated in the subject line). This should be the first paragraph. Then go on to put a little more detail behind your subject, and close with a paragraph giving your contact info and a polite "please contact me with any questions." Making yourself and your contact info available also makes things easier for recipients. People really appreciate when you make things easy for them.
-- Please communicate! This may be the biggest one. The most frustrating thing I have faced in email is its lack. If you use email for your job, check it often. Make it the first thing you do when you open your computer. Bosses get anxious when they don't hear from you, especially if there is a deadline involved. Yes, you may have to admit you're running behind, but most people understand human nature, and can accommodate. But if something is just not there, it's a lot of stress for a lot of people other than yourself.
I hope this was helpful!
Gold star to anyone who already has a professional email account (i.e. not ponydancer5643)
I think this has a lot to do with the fact that if your brain checks out when you're on the phone, there's really no way to cover your bum. Just an awkward silence in the airwaves. And when there's not a physical person present when you're communicating, this seems to happen a lot. Someone should research that.
And unless I have a specific business-type reason to call (I can be very professional if I have a clear reason and goal, I promise) this phenomena usually happens. It makes my voice mails a positive treat.
"Hi, its Anna, so I'm making dinner and... its going to be really good, because it smells great in here. But yeahhhhhh, I'm not actually calling you about that *insert the silence of a mental flatline here.* Oh, sorry, I just spaced out a little. Ignore it. Yeah, hmm, oh! I just wanted to tell you I saw a commercial for a T.V show featuring Jim Caviezel, and it reminded me of that Andy Samberg song you like so much, and whenever you listen to it I yell out 'Jim Caviezel.' Oh, this is Anna, I may not have said that. Anyway, that's what I had to tell you, so bye!"
*Note, this is a fictional, but not exaggerated account. Witnesses can be brought forth on request. Also, the song in which I am referring to is "Iran" by Andy Samberg and Adam Levine from Maroon 5, from Saturday Night Live.
And now that my post has completely gone off-topic, I believe my point has been proven. You can't go off topic with email -- or if you do, you can edit. So, I'm going to share some tips to make email much more effective than my telephone skills.
I dealt with a lot of emails in my college career, and as section editor at my Alma Mater's paper, I dealt with everything from communications with writers, press releases, and the occasional hounding someone about deadlines. It was interesting, being the boss, and it means I can share some pet peeves bosses have.
-- Please identify yourself. I don't know who ponydancer5643 is, sorry. Most emails let you set up signatures that contain contact info, which will automatically be included at the end of emails. I had several, one for dealing with newspaper business, one I'd use when talking to my tutees (ie. the people I tutored), and one for emailing my student org. This allows you to give out exactly how much contact information each group needs (for example, my tutees didn't need to know where my office was in the newspaper, and so on).
-- Please spell-check. Especially if you are in the English business. Even if you are not, most emails have built in spell-checkers, so there is no excuse for misspellings. If the email is of a professional nature, have someone else read it (even if you do know your grammar). The second opinion will help make your correspondence polished. Also, make sure you check the email and the subject line. The subject line could be the only thing your recipient reads, so make it correct and accurate -- then they may read the rest of the email.
--If you are contacting someone to ask a favor (like that they consider publishing a press release), make it easy for them. Get right to the point, include files that may help the person in attachments (instead of going on and on in the body of the email), and make it easy and quick to read. Also, make sure you are contacting the right person. I still get press releases, and I haven't been an editor for about six months.
-- Make email concise. This kind of ties into the making things easy for your recipient. Start with a brief introduction of yourself (if you don't know the person), then a one-sentence summary of your subject (which should also be clearly stated in the subject line). This should be the first paragraph. Then go on to put a little more detail behind your subject, and close with a paragraph giving your contact info and a polite "please contact me with any questions." Making yourself and your contact info available also makes things easier for recipients. People really appreciate when you make things easy for them.
-- Please communicate! This may be the biggest one. The most frustrating thing I have faced in email is its lack. If you use email for your job, check it often. Make it the first thing you do when you open your computer. Bosses get anxious when they don't hear from you, especially if there is a deadline involved. Yes, you may have to admit you're running behind, but most people understand human nature, and can accommodate. But if something is just not there, it's a lot of stress for a lot of people other than yourself.
I hope this was helpful!
Gold star to anyone who already has a professional email account (i.e. not ponydancer5643)
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Things that inspire me...
Vietnam.
Originally the country was just a part of a package deal on my way to Thailand and China. This was what I said when people of my parents' generation asked me, "Why Vietnam?," as inevitably happened.
More specifically, it was a six-week package deal where I could earn credit for my history major in a way that would make school in the summer more than tolerable. We ended up spending 10 days in the country, and they were all amazing. It ended up having some of my favorite places, my best day ever, and a really astounding people.
Its hard to explain its allure, but its something beyond its natural beauty -- which is considerable. The country is at least half bordered by gorgeous beaches, and it features everything from romantically terraced mountains to jungles of exotic plants and delicious alien fruits :) Spectacular too, is the differences of people you can find, from those living in stilt houses to sleek women gliding down the street in silk ao dai.
But the best thing about the people is their acceptance. Most were really excited to meet an American -- granted, a huge percentage of the population is below 25 (therefore doesn't remember the war), but we are, unfortunately, part of the reason that is true. The Vietnamese were fighting for generations straight (first the French, then each other, then America), but they don't hold grudges against any of these groups. I'd read this in some of our required reading, but I was astounded to find it true.
So while the landscapes are absolutely beautiful, and the cities romantically haunting (I'll have to post about Hanoi at some point), it's really that acceptance that I find most inspiring.
Gold star to anyone who dreams of far-off places.
PS. Pictures will be added to this post soon -- I need to find their location first....
Originally the country was just a part of a package deal on my way to Thailand and China. This was what I said when people of my parents' generation asked me, "Why Vietnam?," as inevitably happened.
More specifically, it was a six-week package deal where I could earn credit for my history major in a way that would make school in the summer more than tolerable. We ended up spending 10 days in the country, and they were all amazing. It ended up having some of my favorite places, my best day ever, and a really astounding people.
Its hard to explain its allure, but its something beyond its natural beauty -- which is considerable. The country is at least half bordered by gorgeous beaches, and it features everything from romantically terraced mountains to jungles of exotic plants and delicious alien fruits :) Spectacular too, is the differences of people you can find, from those living in stilt houses to sleek women gliding down the street in silk ao dai.
But the best thing about the people is their acceptance. Most were really excited to meet an American -- granted, a huge percentage of the population is below 25 (therefore doesn't remember the war), but we are, unfortunately, part of the reason that is true. The Vietnamese were fighting for generations straight (first the French, then each other, then America), but they don't hold grudges against any of these groups. I'd read this in some of our required reading, but I was astounded to find it true.
So while the landscapes are absolutely beautiful, and the cities romantically haunting (I'll have to post about Hanoi at some point), it's really that acceptance that I find most inspiring.
Gold star to anyone who dreams of far-off places.
PS. Pictures will be added to this post soon -- I need to find their location first....
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Quick Tip Tuesday
So, I've been meaning to share little tips to crafting, and I planned to name the series "Quick tip Mondays." Well, it's not Monday, but I decided I like the name better with Tuesday anyway. :)
So, here it is, let me know if its useful (I do so ever like to be useful).
Ever spill seed beads while working on a project? It's a pain, right?
Not so much, with a dash of epiphany.
The lint roller trick
You know those clothes rollers you use to get rid of lint and fuzzies, the ones that are essentially layers of tape? Surprise, they are multi-purpose! And cheap -- I get mine at IKEA for a dollar. In absence of a lint roller, a layer of masking tape wrapped around your fingers will work pretty similarly.
All you need to do is sweep your beads into one spot, roll the roller over the pile until they are picked up, and (slowly and carefully) peel the layer of tape off.
The best part of this quick trick is you can bead straight off the tape! No more chasing those buggers around with your needle or wire.
So, here it is, let me know if its useful (I do so ever like to be useful).
Ever spill seed beads while working on a project? It's a pain, right?
Not so much, with a dash of epiphany.
The lint roller trick
You know those clothes rollers you use to get rid of lint and fuzzies, the ones that are essentially layers of tape? Surprise, they are multi-purpose! And cheap -- I get mine at IKEA for a dollar. In absence of a lint roller, a layer of masking tape wrapped around your fingers will work pretty similarly.
All you need to do is sweep your beads into one spot, roll the roller over the pile until they are picked up, and (slowly and carefully) peel the layer of tape off.
The best part of this quick trick is you can bead straight off the tape! No more chasing those buggers around with your needle or wire.
So much neater than a mess.
Gold star to whomever has spilled the most beads. Feel free to share stories, they will lift my spirits.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Getting Settled
So, now that all the hubbub of August nears its end, I can finally begin moving into my room. My family has been planning and painting all summer, but in the middle of my massive hubbub, all my belongings got dropped in a chaotic heap in my new home-space.
But now, the hubbub has resided and I can start unpacking and adding personal touches, and I'm going to share one easy project I did in approximately an hour.
This jewelry frame is an easy and cute way to display and organize pins, earrings, and etc.
What you need:
a picture frame
some sort of screen (I use the plastic-coated door screening, partly because its on hand for repairs)
staple gun with 1/4" staples (or tacks can work as well)
hot glue
paint for color
But now, the hubbub has resided and I can start unpacking and adding personal touches, and I'm going to share one easy project I did in approximately an hour.
This jewelry frame is an easy and cute way to display and organize pins, earrings, and etc.
What you need:
a picture frame
some sort of screen (I use the plastic-coated door screening, partly because its on hand for repairs)
staple gun with 1/4" staples (or tacks can work as well)
hot glue
paint for color
I started with this tacky gold frame that had a redeeming shape (and of which I unfortunately forgot to take a before photo).
With your frame upside-down, cut a piece of the screen to fit. The back of the frame (the part that goes behind the picture to stabilize it) serves as a great pattern. Then fit the screen into the frame.
Staple the screen down at major points like corners and middles. To get good tension across the screen, staple one length and one width, and then push the screen towards the edge of the frame, as pictured below. WARNING: do not staple within an inch or two of where your fingers are placed. In lieu of a staple gun, you can hammer in tacks to achieve the same purpose. You may want to cushion the underside of the frame with towels, to absorb some of the shock.
Your staples will probably be sticking out. If you have a good wooden frame, you can probably hammer them down a little bit with a small hammer. However, if your frame is flimsy and cheap (like mine) hammering the staples down will only split the frame. You can secure the staples with a glob of hot glue, and then glue along the frame to secure the mesh.
Then, paint your frame (spray is best), attach a hanger if needed, and display your beautiful jewelry!
As my room takes form, I'll share more bits and pieces of it -- including my wondrous wall of accessories. I'm really excited to see the finished look.
Also, I DO plan on continuing my series "what do you do with a quarter yard of chiffon," I'll be getting all those tutorials up later this week.
And, also look forward to all the inspiration I alluded to in my previous post ;)
Isn't it grand when life catches up to you at the end of the summer?
Gold star to everyone with so little time and so much creativity. I get you all more than you know :)
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Welcome to my over-booked August
Sorry I've dissappeared for a while. An untimely notice three days before my vacation caused havoc, then my vacation caused (mostly) peace, and now I get to return to havoc, of a much more desirable kind.
But for the bright spot, I've spent two amazing weeks at probably the most unique camping-esque experience out there, and I have returned inspired.
However, sharing all that will have to wait another week, as I must away to Camp Pendaloun to teach high-schoolers to spin flags :)
But for the bright spot, I've spent two amazing weeks at probably the most unique camping-esque experience out there, and I have returned inspired.
However, sharing all that will have to wait another week, as I must away to Camp Pendaloun to teach high-schoolers to spin flags :)
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