Busy, busy, busy

The past week has been insanely busy for me -- professionally, socially, personally, all-ally! I am still running around a lot, trying to get everything geared up for a weekend away with friends, but if everything goes according to plan (how often does that happen, I wonder?), I should be able to get all my ducks in a row before I head out. For me, that's awfully important, because if I've dotted all my i's and crossed all my t's, it is so much easier for me to slip into relaxation mode. And because the very very few times I've not made sure everything's taken care of, it's come back to bite me in the butt! So, wish me luck ... here I go, back to my busy-ness!

So, about my leftover books...

...as I look for places to donate books, I stumbled across the Camel Book Drive, an organization in Kenya! I will have to check into shipping rates & see if it's worthwhile for me to pass some of these along, but I thought I'd let the rest of my blog readers know about it. It seems like there is a huge need for kids' books -- the one type of books that's not well-represented in my leftovers -- but I will do some more reading & see what may appeal to this group!

Books/Movies/Music/Games Exchange!

Today, I hosted another variant on the White Elephant party idea -- I brought together family & friends ... and some of their friends & family ... and we all brought books, tapes, CDs, DVDs, magazines, games and puzzles, to exchange with one another. The cool part is that people got rid of stuff they didn't have much use for, anymore, and walked away with stuff they were excited to have. My big score was a DVD of "Wild Hogs," a movie I enjoyed in the theatre, but one I would never cough up $20 to own. Now, it's mine & I can just skip ahead to the end, which makes me laugh most of all. I'm passing along some books to some other friends ... and will offer up a few more tomorrow, and then I'll sift through the remainder to see what should go to a library & to other charities! It benefits everyone! I love it!

edit: Mel asked how we determine who gets what. It's simple ... we keep track of how many items we put out on the tables & then we can have up to that # of things to take home. We get numbers assigned & randomly draw them. The more things you bring, the more you take home ... unless you're trying to rid of things. Usually, people bring way more than they want to take back ... so at the end, there's a free-for-all & people can take home pretty much whatever they want. Even so, I have a lot left to donate!

Another post from a friend ...

... that makes me smile. You'd have to know Dawn to believe it, but check out her post about being a household diva. Other than June Cleaver, I have NEVER seen photographic evidence of a woman dressed up to the nines while she cleans her home. I wear the grubbiest clothes I have to do these kinds of chores. What am I missing? Is there really glamour involved in cleaning? Is this related to women who put on make up to go to the gym? Someone 'splain this to me. Dawn, honey ... show me the ropes when I visit you at the end of the month so I can try to wrap my head around this idea.

It makes me laugh ...

Every once in a while, I just need a laugh. And I have so many options, when I need a good chuckle, but I often come back to this post by my good friend, Karen. It just cracks me up, envisioning the whole thing unfolding & going horribly awry. I say kudos to you, lady, for holding up under pressure & seeing the wacky humor in the whole thing! Toddle on over to her blog & check it out. And, hey, maybe check out some of her other posts, 'cause she's got some amazing scrappy artwork & projects goin' on over there. If you're really nice, she might even consider hooking you up with a class kit, if she has any left. *smile* Humor, Scrapbooking, Artistry, Guts ... what else could I want in a friend?

Well, if it's right ... it explains a lot!

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 35% Conservative, 65% Liberal Social Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal Fiscal Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal Defense and Crime: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Brain ... too ... full ..... must ... hibernate!

I am, at the moment, feeling totally overwhelmed. Not that there's anything in particular that desperately needs to be done. It's more an "itch" that I have where I suddenly and fiercely am very aware of all the things I want to get around to doing & I already sense there aren't enough minutes in the day. On a visceral level, I just want to curl up and sleep, so I don't have to be aware that I'm already out of time before I've begun. So, I'm taking the approach of just brainstorming every last little tiny thing that needs my attention, big or small, in the upcoming months. I figure that'll not only give it all some kind of form & shape, but it will also give me the ability to prioritize it all & start checking it off. Wish me luck.

Walking my own path

Okay, so as of January, I'm a card-carrying member of the Chicago Swordplay Guild. Or I would be, if they actually gave me a card. Instead, I wear this awesome green shirt with the guild logo emblazoned on it. I'm a "green shirt," and it fills me with a sense of pride. On to the part that is driving me crazy. I am at the absolute bottom rung of the whole she-bang. Everyone else (a) has martial arts experience (b) has 3+ years sword experience and/or (c) is at least 10 years younger than I am. So, they're all quicker, more experienced, and more resilient. I am trying hard not to be a crybaby, but, man ... I do not like getting injured at all. I feel every bruise and minor injury keenly. Then again, they appear to laugh off the injuries as badges of honor. I think I'd rather make it into old age without permanently losing feeling in an extremity, requiring surgery, having muscles separate from bones, severing tendons, getting stabbed in a kidney (did I mention they all carry folding knives?), bruising bones, getting an injury that requires stitches, or explaining the origin of bite marks. I really want to learn medieval long sword as a martial art, and I understand it involves getting whacked occasionally ... but, damn. I've got to find my own path, where I can enjoy what I'm doing, be able to learn, but also be able to sleep at night because I'm not waking up in pain!

Wow! I count myself a lucky person!

Look at the amazing gifts I received through the One World, One Heart event!:

























Isn't it all just amazingly cool? Beautiful items to adorn my home, fun stuff to play with, collectibles - WOW! :D