runlindsayrun

Friday Smile

You know where to find me tomorrow morning... :)

Labels: Friday Smile, From My Inbox, Starbucks

posted by Lindsay @ 11:33 AM 1 comments

One Word

There's a forward going around that's landed in my Inbox a couple of times this week. Instead of sending it around, I figured I'd throw it up here. Feel free to leave a comment!

DESCRIBE ME IN ONE WORD... JUST ONE WORD.

Looking forward to some strange and interesting revelations :)

Labels: From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 1:03 PM 7 comments

Welcome To Holland

This arrived in my inbox today, and I thought it was beautiful (typos and all). I'm not a parent of a child with a disability, but I am a parent and I was a child with a disability, and I can't imagine how my parents got to be so strong.

-

WELCOME TO HOLLAND

By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Labels: Arthritis/Fibromyalgia, From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 2:23 PM 5 comments

Too Much Information

I can't sleep, so you're all getting quiz answers. If I have to suffer and not sleep, then you can certainly handle this blog post ;)

1. First thing you wash in the shower? my face
2. What color is your favorite hoodie? pink
3. Would you kiss any of your Facebook friends? yes
4. Do you plan outfits? i used to...
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? tired but unable to sleep, so kind of frustrated
6. Whats the closest thing to you that's red? part of the box from briony's tinkerbell valentines that's still sitting on the desk, waiting to be moved into the recycling bin...
7. Do you have a library card? i used to, not sure if it's still valid
8. Tell me about the last dream you remember having? uh oh... okay. for some inexplicable reason, i was contemplating an affair with noah wyle (who was a med student, not an actor) - in my dream, i kind of wanted to but all the logistics were just kind of overwhelming and i think i was just too lazy to actually go through with it. kind of hilarious, i think. and i'm still wondering why it was noah wyle and not george clooney... bizarre.
9. Did you meet anybody new today? no
10. What are you craving right now? um... dark chocolate
11. Do you floss? not nearly as often as you're supposed to
12. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? my parents' neighbour joe's amazing cabbage rolls at christmas time
13. When was the last time you talked on the phone? this morning
14. Are you emotional? today, not as much as usual (don't get your hopes up - i'm bound to be crazy and hormonal again by the morning)
15. Would you dance to the taco song? um, what? probably not - i'm not very fun
16. Have you ever counted to 1,000? not that i can recall, but i'm guessing not
17. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? whatever combination will produce the least amount of mess
18. Do you like your hair? no, it's the thorn in my flesh. i've always hated it, and now it's falling out... i'm cutting it tomorrow, and hope i won't really regret that after the fact
19. Do you like yourself? mostly
20. Have you ever met a celebrity? didn't i just tell the noah wyle story? hehe
21. Do you like cottage cheese? yes
22. What are you listening to right now? peace and quiet
23. How many countries have you visited? no clue... um... eight??
24. Are your parents strict? i'm going to say yes, but not in a bad way
25. Would you go sky diving? it would scare me to death, but yes
26. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? definitely - just to ask some questions
27. Would you throw potatoes at him? no, but i would want to
28. Is there anything sparkly in the room you’re in? my ring (awww)
29. Have you ever been in a castle? yes
30. Do you rent movies often? no
31. Who annoys you most? i'm not working with him anymore, so it doesn't matter :)
32. Have you made a prank phone call? yes, and it's pretty legendary... i may or may not have convinced a boy from our high school that i was a fake girl from another high school who had seen him playing basketball and fell in love on the spot... and he may or may not have taken the bait hook line and sinker and told tons of people about it at school the next day... and he may or may not know to this day that it was a prank. sorry :)
33. Do you own a gun? no (scary)
34. Can you count backwards from 74? i sure as heck hope so
35. Who are you going to be with tonight? geoff and briony
36. Brown or white eggs? brown
37. Do you own something from Hot Topic? nope
38. Ever been on a train? yes
39. Ever been in love? yes
40. Do you have a cell-phone? yes
41. Are you too forgiving? probably
42. Do you use chap stick? yes
43. What is your best friend doing tomorrow? i don't really subscribe to the whole 'best friend' thing... i have lots of 'best girls' - and they'll be up to no good tomorrow, as usual :)
44. Can you use chop sticks? poorly, much to geoff's amusement
45. Ever have cream puffs? yes, with much guilt involved
46. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? yes
47. What was the last question you asked? 'do you think i should cut my hair?' (poor geoff, who had absolutely no response)
48. What was the last CD you bought? the newest kanye west, part of geoff's christmas gift
49. Boys or girls? um, that's pretty vague
50. What is your secret food weakness? eating it
51. Is your hair curly? nope, it's that nasty flippy wavy in-between hair
52. Last time you cried? no clue, but probably very recently
53. Ever walked into a wall? allllll the time
54. Do looks matter? yes, but they aren't everything
55. Have you ever bought anything from Pac Sun? guess not
56. Have you ever slapped someone? i don't think so, actually
57. Favorite time of the year? autumn
58. Favorite color? changes constantly - right now, green and blue
59. Are you sarcastic? always
60. Do you have any tattoos? yes
61. The last person you held hands with? noah wyle
62. Do you sleep with the TV on? no, though it happened frequently when i was single
63. Where was your default picture taken at? i refuse to answer this question based on its ridiculous grammar (or lack thereof)
64. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? probably
65. Do you like your life right now? definitely
66. How often do you talk on the phone? only as much as i need to - i definitely prefer email (weird, i know, because i *heart* talking)
67. What is your favorite animal? hot dog
68. What was the most recent thing you bought? groceries
69. Do you have good vision? when i'm wearing glasses or contacts :)
70. Can you hula hoop? i could when i was younger - haven't tried recently
71. Could you ever forgive a cheater? i have in dating relationships, but i think it would be much more difficult now that i'm married... i'm honestly not sure
72. Do you have a job? wife to geoff, mommy to briony, part-time student, and still technically communications director at cocoon
73. Can you handle the truth? even when it's tough, i still prefer it
74. What are you wearing? wouldn't you like to know
75. Have you ever crawled through a window? nope, not that kind of girl

Labels: From My Inbox, Nothing Important

posted by Lindsay @ 12:19 AM 1 comments

Lindsay-ology

Erin tagged me on Facebook, but I'm going to answer here instead...

What is your salad dressing of choice?
It changes depending on the salad I'm about to consume. It's usually a vinaigrette of some kind

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Hmmm... Good question. Right now, it's Pizzeria Gusto. YUMMY

What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of?
I think that I'd get sick of *anything* after eating it for two weeks

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Mushrooms. (Sorry, Geoff)

What do you like to put on your toast?
This is entirely different from day to day. Usually some variation of butter, jam, or peanut butter

How many televisions are in your house?
Two, but we really only use one

What color cell phone do you have?
Dark grey and black

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Very, very much right-handed. This is the reason I pay for manicures

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Just four wisdom teeth, a chunk of bone from my jaw (ew)... and Briony :)

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Briony

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
Nope

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
No. That would take all the fun out of it

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
I don't think I would. In fact, I kind of like my name

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
No, but I'm positive my husband would

How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
Lots. Which is funny, because they're kind of a pet peeve of mine

Last time you had a run-in from the cops?
Never. (Insert innocent smile here)

Last person you talked to?
My mom, on the phone

Last person you hugged?
Geoff, last night

Favorite Season?
Autumn

Favorite Holiday?
Christmas

Favorite Day of the Week?
Ummm... Sunday

Favorite Month?
September

Favorite Smell?
Rain. Baby. Baking. Really great cologne

First place you went this morning?
Briony's room

Last movie you saw?
Coraline

Do you smile often?
I hope so...

Do you always answer your phone?
No. I don't really like to talk on the phone, so I'm notorious for either (a) screening, or (b) having my ringer off. It's nothing personal :)

It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Geoff, working a night shift

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
I kind of always wanted green eyes, but I'm okay with my blue ones

What flavor drink do you get at Sonic?
Not really applicable

Do you own a digital camera?
Yes, but I always use Geoff's instead

Have you ever had a pet fish?
Many, beginning with Arden the goldfish (RIP)

Favorite Christmas song?
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - it's just so beautiful

What's on your wish list for your birthday?
No clue...

Can you do push ups?
Absolutely not

Can you do a chin up?
Not to save my life

Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Both

Have you ever been in a car wreck?
Many, unfortunately (rarely my fault)

Do you have an accent?
I don't think so, but you should probably tell me!

What is the last song to make you cry?
Heal Over (KT Tunstall)

Labels: From My Inbox, Nothing Important

posted by Lindsay @ 1:34 PM 0 comments

Friday Smile

Yeah, I don't usually pass these along. But I got this forward from my mom today (via my grandma) and it made me laugh so hard that I had to.

-

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?'
'Reading a book,' she replies, (thinking, 'Isn't that obvious?')
'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her
'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'

'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'For reading a book,' she replies,

'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her again, 'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'

'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'If you do that, I'll have to charge you with Sexual assault, 'says the woman.

'But I haven't even touched you,' says the game warden.

'That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.'

'Have a nice day ma'am,' and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

Labels: Friday Smile, From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 9:55 AM 1 comments

20 Random Things

Jobina tagged me on Facebook, but I'm responding here instead...

Here are the rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 20 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose 20 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I re-read books, which is how I justify my book collection that is threatening to overtake our home office - affectionately known as 'Lindsay's library.' Some of my favourites have easily been enjoyed twenty times and counting.

2. I love (and I mean *love*) the movie The American President. Yep, that one - straight out of the 90s, starring Michael Douglas and Annette Bening. I don't know why. I just do.

3. I met my husband online, and I'm so sick of some people's reactions when they find that out. I can't imagine my life without him in it, and I don't know how else our paths would have ever crossed. It's a beautiful way to begin to fall in love with someone.

4. I always intended to become a high school english and performing arts teacher, and pursued that goal right up to and including three student teaching placements while in university working on my B.Ed.

5. I got pregnant with our daughter while I was on birth control. I've now become that cautionary tale you tell your teenage children to scare them.

6. I have lived with rheumatoid arthritis since I was 10 years old, and fibromyalgia since I was 22. I woudn't recommend either one.

7. My career in advertising was entirely accidental. When I was 19, I took a summer job at an ad agency that was supposed to involve filing and answering phones. The writer called in sick right before the content for a client's website was due. Someone asked if I wanted to try writing it. And the rest is history.

8. I have never, ever dated a guy my own age - always older. My husband is seven and a half years older than me, and I think the difference is perfect.

9. I'm a very good proofreader. And unless I'm at work and getting paid to do it, I consider it to be a curse - EVERYTHING bugs me and I just want to fix it.

10. When I was 21, I decided to sign up for Joints in Motion, a program that raises money for arthritis research. Since then, I've raised almost $25,000 and completed a full marathon in Bermuda, a half marathon in Switzerland, and a 10K in Greece.

11. I drink an ungodly amount of coffee. Mostly Starbucks. I could have purchased a small country for the amount of money I've left in that place. And I don't regret a single delicious drop.

12. I love to cook, but I HATE to clean up (fortunately, Geoff doesn't mind doing the dishes). I love to pack for a trip, but I HATE to unpack (and often don't for weeks after I get home). I love to decorate for Christmas, but I HATE putting it all away (my tree sometimes stays up until the beginning of February). Hmmm... See #15.

13. Nothing makes me happier than crossing things off a list I made on a post-it note. I like it so much that I usually add one or two things to the list that I've already done, just so that I can cross them off right away.

14. I'm a Christian, but that label embarrasses me. I think that Christians have a long track record of being incredibly un-Christ-like and I *hate* being associated with that. Not that I think I'm better... I think I just realize that I'm so very UNlike Christ that I have no business playing God or pretending to understand what's right or wrong for other people. My faith is intensely personal.

15. One of the great joys in my life is starting a project. I get super-excited about it and love to plan it out and organize it - but by the time it's 90% done, I'm so over it and want to move on to the next new thing.

16. Last year was the toughest year of my life, but the happiest. I don't really expect that to make sense to people.

17. I would love to be Stacy on What Not To Wear. Getting paid to criticize people is pretty much my dream job. And then there's always a happy ending when you see them looking and feeling so awesome at the end of the episode. I couldn't dream of anything more.

18. I have almost zero tolerance for fake people and superficial friendships. I honestly believe that the best, most interesting people are those who have experienced true disappointment and challenges in their lives. It makes you multidimensional, forces you to become compassionate, and shapes your world view. I think it's beautiful.

19. I have been blogging for more than six years, but I have never managed to keep up a journal. I'm not sure what that says about me.

20. I sleep on my stomach (shut up, I know it's bad), and it was an especially cruel form of torture for me to be forced onto my side while I was pregnant.

I tag nobody, but if you're reading this and have a couple of spare minutes, I'd love to read lists from ALL of you :)

Labels: From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 10:51 PM 6 comments

Urgent Prayer Request

This just landed in my inbox...

As many or all of you may know, in August of this year Jim Schapansky was hospitalized and was found to have a cancerous tumour located in his brain. Emergency surgery was performed to remove the golf-ball sized tumour, and later that month aggressive chemo and radiation therapy were started.

Recently Jim has been to the doctor and received the news that not only has the treatment been ineffective, Jim goes as far to say that the drugs were fertilizer for the cancer. His tumour has more than tripled in size. He has decreased movement in his left arm and leg as well as constant headaches which are only dulled by massage.

Jim has a appointment scheduled with the surgeon TODAY at 1:30 PM (Central Time for those of you in other time zones) to decide whether or not an operation is possible. If a surgery is not possible, which is likely, the cancer would continue its deadly and destructive course, something that Jim has "come to terms with". Unfortunately, many of his friends and family have not come to terms with this quite yet.

The purpose of this email is to ask you for your help. I ask not for money, nor food, nor gifts. I ask merely for your heart. I ask that you keep Jim, Helen, Joanne and Steven in your hearts and in your prayers throughout this very crucial and critical day. If you could please pray for Jim, his family, and his doctors, we can make a difference. No. I will rephrase that: HE can make a difference. The God that healed the lame, the blind, the deaf, the mute, the dead, the demon possessed, the sick; He can heal Jim.

If it is possible, at 1:30 if we could stop whatever we are doing and devote ourselves completely to praying especially for Jim and his surgeon, for as long as you feel necessary or better yet: as long as possible.

Labels: From My Inbox, Prayer Request

posted by Lindsay @ 12:58 PM 6 comments

...Yawn...

All weekend, I've been fighting to get some sleep. And I've been losing. I've tried everything I can think of and have given myself a nightly routine that includes (a) writing down the things I'm stressing about so that they're out of my head, and then (b) spending time with a good book in a bubble bath until I'm starting to feel sleepy/pruny. And still, I'm awake more than I'm asleep. I keep thinking the next night will be better, because I'm about 50% more exhausted than I was the night before... But no. I just keep adding exhaustion on top of exhaustion, until I became convinced that there was something seriously wrong with me.

Then this morning, I got one of my 'baby emails' in my Inbox. The topic? Third trimester insomnia, which is apparently very common - like 75% of all expecting moms common.

It doesn't really fix the situation (and all of their 'ideas' for how to deal with it were useless - as in, things I'm already doing), but it reassured me that I'm normal. Which seems to be a common theme already. I should really lighten up.

It's beyond cruel. Just when I need sleep more than ever - and when I know that I'm about to lose MONTHS of sleep once Briony comes - there is absolutely no sleep to be had. Here's hoping it was just a temporary setback. Because Lindsay is TIRED. And the only way I'm going to survive an intense final four weeks of work (and final seven weeks of pregnancy) is by getting some sleep.

Ironically, I'm pretty sure that if I crawled under my desk right now, I'd sleep like a baby...

Labels: Baby Talk, From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 11:08 AM 7 comments

What If It's A Boy?

I've received this email forward before, but not since I got pregnant... My mother-in-law sent this to me - along with a wish that if we do have a boy, it's a boy like Geoff (who apparently played very nicely and quietly). I've been hearing a lot of girl guesses lately, but I guess we'll see!

-

You find out interesting things when you have sons, like...

1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq ft house 4 inches deep.

2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3. A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft room.

5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7. When you hear the toilet flush and the two words 'uh oh' - it's already too late.

8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9. A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.

10. Certain Lego pieces will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.

11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12. Super glue is forever.

13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool, you still can't walk on water.

14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15. VCR's do not eject PB & J sandwiches.

16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not like ovens.

20. The fire department in Austin , TX has a 5-minute response time.

21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24. 80% of women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.

25. 80% of men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

Labels: From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 11:33 AM 0 comments

Apparently, I'm Dying Or Something

Is it just me, or is this article (which appeared in my Inbox today) incredibly depressing?

They may as well have said: if it sounds fun, don't do it!

I thought I'd cheer myself up by linking to the article that was sure to be chock-full of fun things that I *can* do... But that list was FOUR ACTIVITIES LONG. Sigh.

Labels: Baby Talk, From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 4:50 PM 5 comments

Friday Smile

I got this in my DailyCandy email this morning, and I HAD to post it. It's the funniest thing ever :)

You’ve been dancing in front of your mirror for years, and all you’ve ever gotten for it was a weird look from your roommate.

You could turn those moves into cold hard cash in the JockeyUnderWars tournament.

Slip on your favorite bikini briefs and film yourself getting your groove on. The winner gets 25,000 smackeroos. (Yup, the big bucks.) Nab the prize by receiving the most viewer votes.

You can create a profile where people can post comments (“Nice spins, hottie!”). Think you have what it takes to be an UnderWarrior? Challenge another contestant to an UnderWar dance off — winner takes all (meaning bragging rights).

What’s more: The first 50 DailyCandy readers to post a video using promo code DCJUW50 in their profile will receive a $50 Jockey® gift card. The submission deadline is April 10. So now’s the time to throw on your striped, pink bad boys and shake that groove thing.

Don’t play coy.

Check out the UnderWarrior at jockeyunderwars.com. To post your video, go to jockeyunderwars.com/submit.

Labels: Friday Smile, From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 11:49 AM 2 comments

Fun With Words

I don't usually encourage email forwards, but I got this one today that made me giggle.

Here is the Washington Post's Mensa Invitational which once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

A few highlights...

Cashtration: The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole.

Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

Bozone: The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high

Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

Decafalon: The gruelling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

Beelzebug: Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

Labels: From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 1:07 PM 3 comments

5 Random Things

I was tagged by blogging buddy Nicole, so in the interest of good sportsmanship - here you go!

THE MISSION:
Share five random/weird things about myself.
Share five places that I want to see or want to see again.
Tag five random people.

5 Random Things

1. I won't do or try something if I think it might make me look stupid. I wish that I didn't care, but I do. There's this old Friends episode where Rachel won't go running with Phoebe because she looks so dumb when she runs... I seriously relate.

2. I am the slowest eater in the world. We used to think it was because of my jaw joints, but now we all know that I'm just a slow eater :)

3. I never get sick of reading a good book. Some of the books in my library have been read 30 times, and it just makes them better and better. I just get in a mood, and I know *exactly* which familiar character on my shelf will make good company.

4. I have freakishly strong nails, and they grow super-fast. It makes other people hate me.

5. I have my dream job right now, but I think I'd like to teach communications or advertising at a post-secondary level someday. Either that, or I'll get incredibly brave and start writing for real. In another life, I would probably consider a career in law or politics.

5 Random Places

1. New York - I've never been, and I've always wanted to. I'm a sucker for big cities that are oozing with culture and museums and great food and amazing shopping.

2. Italy - I've never been, and it looks so pretty... But I'm more excited for Milan and Florence than for Rome and Venice - not sure why.

3. Montreal - I went two summers ago, and I had so much fun. There was so much to do, and I loved that I got to use the French part of my brain just a little bit. And it's on my life goal list to make it back to the Jazz Festival. Amazing.

4. Turkey - I got just a little taste on our cruise this year, and I would love to go back and explore Istanbul and the rest of the country. It's a gateway country to the Middle East, and I've love to see that part of the world but I'll admit that I'm way too scared. So it's a safe little taste without being seriously frightening.

5. Places Unknown - I used to have such a safe, set little list of places I wanted to see. I've knocked off the big ones. And now I'm really not too sure. My list changes constantly based on books I read, things I watch, what's on the news, and just whatever I happen to feel like at the moment. I'm not as nervous about travelling to less comfortable places as I used to be. My list at the moment includes Brazil, Morocco, Germany, Spain / Portugal, the south of France, Egypt, Japan, China, Norway, and (yes, seriously) Antarctica. But ask again tomorrow, because I'm sure it will have changed :)

5 Random People

Gloria, Sherri M, Crystal, Marilyn, and Mom (leave your answers in the comments section if you don't have a blog)

Labels: From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 11:45 AM 4 comments

And Now, For a Little Perspective

This was in my inbox today... One of my aunts (Val) spent time as a volunteer at this orphanage in her 20s, and I was so impacted by her pictures and her stories. Please take a few minutes to read about what is happening in Kenya, and how it is affecting the work of this charity that cares for the country's orphaned and abandoned children - and if you're able to do something (a donation, a fundraiser, or a prayer), please help.

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There are days when news of our world renders us powerless to do anything about the chaos. There are also days when we have the opportunity to offer peace and comfort to our global family in crisis. Today is such a day.

On December 29th, while we enjoyed the peace of an abundant Canadian Christmas, Kenyans watched in disbelief as the peace of their country began to unravel. Since then, more than 350,000 Kenyans have been displaced and hundreds have died in tribal clashes.

For those who have not been introduced to our work, the Mully Children’s Family Charitable Foundation is a registered Canadian charity; a humanitarian organization that provides for 1,500 of Kenya’s orphaned and abandoned children. Through our African field partner, the Mully Children’s Family, founded and run by Charles Mulli, street children facing abandonment, abuse, additions or HIV/AIDS are welcomed regardless of religion or tribe. The Mully Children’s Family has been rescuing such children for 19 years. Over 3,500 children have been rehabilitated and have returned to their communities, modeling the same compassion that was offered to them by a man the children call Daddy, Charles Mulli.

350 children left the Mully Children’s Family homes to spend Christmas holidays with their extended families in Eldoret and Mombassa; areas ravaged by violence and bloodshed. These children and staff members have yet to be heard from due to the mass exit from Eldoret and a breakdown in the country’s communication system.

With road blockages throughout the country, without military support, Charles cannot travel to these areas to locate the children. Plans are in place to find the children and bring them home the moment it is safe to do so. Trauma counselors will be in place to guide all the children through this horrendous time. In addition to added costs for the rescue and counseling, food costs in Kenya have tripled.

At a time when Charles and his wife Esther must be overwhelmed by worry for their missing children and staff, he is extending compassion in a way most of us cannot identify with. Charles has worked in Kenya’s slums for years and has expertise in caring for large numbers of people. Plans are in place to offer emergency aid to 15,000 families who have seen their houses burnt, communities looted and horrific violence. For $50, families will receive trauma counselling, spiritual guidance, three hot meals a day, clean and safe drinking water, clothing, basic health care, increased sanitation (pit latrines to cut down on infectious diseases) hygiene products and recreational activities and sports for the children. MCF’s staff are in place and eager to start the work. They need the funds, and quickly.

Charles has vast experience with emergency food drives as he helps thousands each Christmas and during periods of drought. He has worked in Kenya’s slums for years. With 1,500 mouths to feed on a daily basis, he knows where to find bulk food for the best cost. In short, donations to our emergency fund will be stretched to maximum value.

The Canada Helps logo on our website offers you the opportunity to act immmediately. All funds are Tax receiptable. Cheques can also be mailed to MCFCF, PO Box 93014, 1111 Davis Drive, Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 8K3.

In addition to asking for a donation for emergency relief, we are asking you to join us, and spread the word of how Canadians can rally together and offer comfort to Kenya's traumatized children.

For those interested in taking this initiative further, visit the Crisis relief page for a simple fundraising activity you can ask your child’s school to participate in. In our years of working with schools and teachers, Canadian students have the ability to achieve greatness when they set out to help children in other countries.

Words fail to express our gratitude for support for our family at MCF as well as extending yourself to displaced Kenyans who will never have the privilege of thanking you in person.

Thanks also for your prayers for a Peaceful resolution. Please keep storming the heavens on the children's behalf. These little ones belong to Him.

Help us bring the smiles back to the children's faces.

Learn more at www.mcfcf.ca.

Labels: Current Events, From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 3:25 PM 1 comments

Friday Smile

A less traditional Friday Smile for you today... I just received the 2008-2009 Joints in Motion destination plans in my inbox today, and it made me smile - partly because I really want to do another one, and partly because I know that for every person who signs up for one of these amazing destinations, we are one step closer to finding a cure.

Without further ado, here they are (tentative for now)...

September 2008 - Maui, Hawaii
Full and Half Marathon
Fundraising Goal approx $6,000
*Aloha!

April 2009 - Big Sur, California
21 Mile, 10.6 Mile, 9 Mile & 5K
Fundraising Goal approx $4,500
*Chosen by Runners World magazine as the world's most beautiful course

April 2009 - Country Music Marathon, Nashville
Full and Half Marathon
Fundraising Goal approx $4,000
*Yeehaw!

May 2009 - Trieste, Italy
Full and Half Marathon (Run OR In-Line Skate)
Fundraising Goal approx $6,000
*2 hours NE of Venice, on the Italy/Slovenia border

July 2009 - Gold Coast Marathon, Australia
Full and Half Marathon, 10K Run, 7.5K Walk
Fundraising Goal approx $10,000
*We'll throw 'er on the barbie, mates!

And it's not too late to join in some of the remaining 2007/2008 destinations:
Great Wall, China - May 2008
Edinburgh, Scotland - May 2008
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania - August 2008
Machu Picchu, Peru - August 2008
Walt Disney World, Florida - September 2008
Negril, Jamaica - December 2008
Walt Disney World, Florida - January 2009

Labels: Friday Smile, From My Inbox, Joints in Motion

posted by Lindsay @ 4:19 PM 2 comments

Christmas Smile

Labels: From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 4:05 PM 0 comments

Long Lost

...And speaking of resemblances, here's a funny little side-by-side image that appeared in my inbox today. One of our designers was watching Ocean's Thirteen recently, and thought that one of the actors - Eddie Jemison - bore a striking resemblance to my dear husband. I fought him on this point right up until I actually saw the picture of Eddie.

You can see for yourself. Creepy.

Labels: From My Inbox, Nothing Important

posted by Lindsay @ 5:55 PM 4 comments

8 Things

Gloria tagged me on this one, so here goes nothing!

8 things I’m passionate about:
1 My family
2 My friends
3 My husband
4 My faith
5 My work
6 Coffee (mmm Starbucks)
7 Proper spelling and punctuation
8 Keeping things in perspective

8 things I want to do before I die:
1 Pay off my student loans :P
2 Start a family
3 Celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary
4 Write a book
5 Explore more of this big, crazy world
6 Find a balance where I feel healthy
7 Finish another degree in... something :)
8 RUN a Joints in Motion event

8 things I say often:
1 "Think happy thoughts!" (to Christine)
2 "No man is an island..." (to Dolly)
3 "What? What is that smirk?!" (to Geoff)
4 "I love you." (to Geoff, and anyone else who makes me happy)
5 "Cheer up, Sunshine!" (to Chuck)
6 "You are my favourite person today." (various)
7 "That is NOT FUNNY. I'm not laughing." (to my Dad)
8 "It's still not funny." (to my Dad, while laughing, about 4 seconds after #9)

8 books I’ve read recently:
1 The Shock Doctrine (Naomi Klein)
2 Four Blondes (Candace Bushnell)
3 I Am America, and so can you! (Stephen Colbert)
4 Giving (Bill Clinton)
5 Ecoholic: When You're Addicted to the Planet (Adria Vasil)
6 Web Project Management textbook (what a geek!)
7 A bunch of travel books about Greece
8 Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures (Vincent Lam) - In Progress

8 songs that I could listen to over and over:
1 Again (Lenny Kravitz)
2 Songbird (Eva Cassidy)
3 Thank You (Dido)
4 Dreams (The Cranberries)
5 Alone (Heart)
6 Fear (Sarah McLachlan)
7 Inside and Out (Feist)
8 Fading Like a Flower (Roxette)

8 things that attract me to my best friend:
1 Patience
2 Generosity
3 Sense of Humour
4 Smirk
5 Dependability
6 Honesty
7 Thoughtfulness
8 Values

8 things I’ve learned this past year:
1 Being married is awesome
2 You don't have to be a hero to inspire people
3 I have the greatest friends and family
4 Donkeys smell weird
5 As much as I enjoy it, my job does not define me
6 Weddings cost a lot of money
7 Television SUCKS without writers
8 Geoff makes a fantastic travel partner

And last but certainly not least - I'm not tagging anyone... But I'd love to read yours if you feel inspired to write one yourself!

Labels: From My Inbox

posted by Lindsay @ 10:02 PM 2 comments

Healthy Change

I had an interesting article appear in my inbox this morning, and thought I'd share.

So apparently, getting married makes the list of the eight most traumatic life changes - also including losing your job, having a baby, moving, retiring, death of a loved one, leaving a long-term relationship, seeing your last kid off to college, and going from employee to entrepreneur. I'm not really finding it 'traumatic' but reading this list helped me to realize that any extra emotions I'm feeling are very, very normal.

This article offered a few tips for making it through life transitions in a healthy way. I think I might try out this advice. And I realized it might not hurt to spread it around a little - I think we can all benefit from taking better care of ourselves.

1. Embrace it. Instead of asking yourself "When am I going to get back to normal?", be thankful that you are given an opportunity to reflect on your life and possibly come out with a new, improved, emotionally healthier you. You may not want to do this in public, but repeat the mantra "uncertainty is powerful and liberating!" as often as you can, and you may just begin to believe it.

2. Carve out quiet, reflective time. I find that people who are in the midst of a career change feel extremely guilty for taking any time off between the "old gig" and the new. But in fact, if you don't take some time off between endeavors, you are much more likely to either choose the wrong vocation, or find yourself just as frustrated in your new situation as you were in your old one. So don't beat yourself up if you feel the need to just space out, take long walks, or cook good meals.

3. Do something creative. If you are a frustrated artist, now is the perfect time to break out your paints, or clay, or camera, and engage your creative senses. You want to be more in a state of feeling rather than thinking, and creative pursuits are great for that.

4. Ask yourself "What am I afraid of?" Your fears hold lots of information which can shape your new life. If you are getting married, you may fear losing your independence, or your prized Hot Car collection, or your sense of spontaneous passion. Don't choke down these fears, look at them closely and use them as the basis for good, healthy discussion with your spouse-to-be about how you can design a life to incorporate the things that are important to both of you.

5. "Try on" different scenarios that don't fit the "old" you. When you are working full-time as an employee, or raising teenagers, or whatever your "old life" consisted of, you can get set in a certain persona. As you leave your familiar role ("I am the ultimate mother figure to my kids whose primary goal is to support and nurture") and move towards your uncertain future role, try on some new, totally different scenarios ("I am a wanderlust-filled traveller whose only thought is how to indulge my every whim, dance on tabletops and eat exotic food.") You may just find that the person you once were, or always wanted to be, is just waiting for you to step into her shoes.

6. Tune up your health. When I went through a slow period in my consulting business a couple of years ago, I used the free time as a way to get back into working out. I took up yoga, pilates and kickboxing, dropped 20 pounds and found that my overall emotional well-being skyrocketed. A time of great personal transition is NOT the time to indulge in drugs or alcohol as it will only drown out your creative voice and reinforce feelings of fear and anxiety when you wake up next to your empty tequila bottle. Instead, eat healthily, exercise and breathe in as much clean air as you can and you will find that peace and clarity emerges from deep within.

7. Cut back on obligations to ensure alone time. You want to reduce as many obligations as you can so that your primary focus is yourself. So just because you don't have a "day job" anymore, don't volunteer to chair the holiday food drive at your local shelter, or to watch the neighbor's 3-year old quadruplets. Once you are clear and moving in your new life, you can train for sainthood on earth again. For now, clean out the lint from your own bellybutton.

8. Clear out clutter. A period of transition is a great time to clear out junk, boxes, papers, pictures, old clothes, moldy food from the back of your refrigerator and expired cans from the pantry. A clean environment really does contribute to a clean mind. I am also a big fan of rearranging furniture since it will get you comfortable with seeing familiar things in a new and different way.

Labels: From My Inbox, My Life

posted by Lindsay @ 9:15 AM 4 comments