Decemberist

I took some time today to reflect on the little things and this is the listicle I came up with:

1. I went to NYC twice this year (for work).

2. I’ve had at least 365 brilliant ideas and the year is not even over yet. Watch out 2012!

3. I would rather be me every day than someone other people expect me to be for even one second.

4. The grass can be the perfect shade of green if you use just enough fertilizer.

5. I may love even numbers, but I still hate math.

6. Sometimes I get accused of being negative when really, I’m just being honest. For those who agree, please refer to number three and feel free to forget my existence.

7. I accidentally dropped a rhyme in that last one. Poetry in motion.

8. I forgot what eight was for.

9. I love being more right-brained.

10. This list was just my silly way of saying, happy first day of the last day of the month.

Tags: December, On being me, Reflection, Silly Sharpe

Frozen in Time

snOMG 2011

Happy New Year!

It’s hard to believe I have not posted anything since 2010. I resisted the urge to do a proper recap of the year for a variety of reasons. None of which I plan to share or defend.

One of my favorite things about having a personal blog is that I control when the writing occurs. I set the boundaries, I write the content and sometimes I even take photo credit. See example above.

I broke my blogging silence to share my random bottle cap project during the great snOMG of 2011. This is a good indiction of what the future looks like. I am going through old memories and repurposing them. I will also be creating many new ones most likely on a different site.

It will all make more sense soon, but always feel free to leave me questions or comments.

Thanks for playing!

Tags: snOMG

Writer’s Block vs. Writer’s Hesitation

From the looks of this blog, you may think I have stumbled upon a massive case of writer’s block.

Wrong.

What I am really suffering from is writer’s hesitation.

On a good day, I have up to 4-5 new post ideas. On those same days, I decide what is not worthy based on what other people may or may not think. Is this going to offend so and so, will this blog make me unemployable, is it okay to be honest about what really goes on behind the curtain. etc.

I let other people’s opinions get in my way.

I remember vividly when this all began. I started listening to the sometimes solicited, but mostly unsolicited advice of what a blog is supposed to be and what my writing should focus on. Why don’t I have a niche? Why do I think writing about my life is so important? Why do I not do this or why do I do that with my blog?

Guess what? This is not your blog!

If I wanted to write about my puppy one day and mortgage rates the next, what is stopping me?

Nothing.

I do try to be mindful of my readers and not bore you all to tears with tales of woe (of which there have been too many to count recently). If you are a first time reader you have probably not heard the endless droning about my old blog and how much better it was. One of the main reasons my consistency and content was much more robust is I never took the peanut gallery commentary to heart. I’m not even sure I knew they existed?

I just wrote.

That is what I loved about writing. There are no rules for a blog. There may be more effective ways to get readership and market your blog, but no rules for a personal blog. I would go so far as to say there are no rules for any blog unless you write on behalf of a company (and in that case, be mindful as you represent a brand). My readers are smart enough to exercise good judgement on this one.

The point I am really trying to make here, is I no longer choose to allow writer’s hesitation to affect me.

If you feel my posts are not for you, it takes one click to close the window. Don’t be shy. You even have my personal invitation to leave feedback in the comments on why you will no longer visit my page. I promise to take it all into consideration.

I want to make this last part clear:

What you don’t have is control of what you think I should be writing about. I have sincerely appreciated the feedback in all the forms in which it was received, but I am also ready to seize control of my thoughts, my writing, my desire to post about about anything I see fit.

I may just write about turtles next time. Because. I can.

Thanks for playing!

Tags: The peanut gallery, writing

Just Read a Book

The Girl Behind the Book

Bookstores have always been a weakness of mine. I have always dreamed of wall to wall bookshelves and one day having a library in my house. This weekend, I realized where that dream originated. 

The DJ was playing a gig in South Florida and we literally flew down for 24 hours. I was hesitant to spread the word that we were coming down due to our limited time and the distance between where my family has spread out all over the tri-county area. My father remained determined to see us and rewarded me with two of my favorite ways to pass time… lunch and visit to a bookstore. 

We were walking around the bookstore and he was attempting to catch up with me while I stopped every few minutes to pick up a book and declare I had to have it. When we passed a section with classics like 1984 and Animal Farm I was reminded of my childhood. My father bought me these books before I even knew how to read. By the time I was in middle school and they were assigned reading, I refused because I had already read them. I asked for more challenging assignments. It was not that my Dad ever asked me to dissect the characters in the story or who the Pig or Snowball possibly represented. They just felt like books I read as a child and therefore did not agree with them being considered “homework“. 

I started to tell my father about this and since he had never seen a report card or feedback from a teacher, he found the story amusing. He said (in his adorable South African accent), “Your mother must have had a fit when you did that!“ 

She did.

In fact, every time my Mother had a “fit” I just called my Dad to tell him how intolerable she was. I started to remember how often I called my Father with this information and instead of responding, “Why do you think we are not married anymore?” the only thing I remember him saying is, “Why don’t you just read a book?“. 

Then I would hang up and do just that. I read everything. Mostly young adult novels like pictured above, but I often borrowed books from my Mom’s overflowing collection of self help and psychology. She was studying for her Master’s in Social Work so there was an abundance of these types of books collecting dust next to her battered copy of Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love them. I read that too. 

I then lamented on the fact that there were all these books that I feel like I could have written years ago. My Dad stared at me with genuine sincerity and said he always wondered why I had not written a book yet. I gently reminded him how he and my Mother told me that being an author was a poor career choice and I would never make any money. He paused, took a serious look at me and asked with no trace of irony, “When did you start listening to what we told you to do?”

No pause from me, “Um, every time you told me to read a book, I did!“.

Tags: Bookstores, I heart my Daddy

The Day I Ousted the DJ

Sharing is Caring

Ever had a day that seemed to have a theme? Today appeared to be brought to me by Foursquare. 

If you have managed to find the one rock left to live under (Pass Go and collect $200), you are scratching your head wondering what a Foursquare is? I believe sharing is caring, so let’s talk a little about this location based social networking site currently swiffering the nation. All you need is a mobile phone or text enabled device type thing and you can play.

Why would you want to join another social network site, you ask (Yes, I can hear your thoughts. My ESPN is all the way on)?  This one comes with benefits and badges along with discounts from businesses that participate in the game. You can also find out where your friends are, allow them to stalk you, meet you out for dinner or drinks or give you tips around town. It’s a really cool fun way to play with your friends and do your part in supporting businesses or providing them feedback you may not necessarily give face to face. There are many reasons to play and you can learn more here.

Why does this day remind me of Foursquare? It all started in a parking garage in Midtown, Atlanta. I pulled in with my usual expectations of parking on one of the upper levels visitor parking spaces. I remember getting out of the car and getting my Foursquare application ready to check in. The Blackberry app will locate businesses within a few mile radius and let you select from the list.  The coffee shop I was going to check in at was not entered so I put all my energy into proactively getting my game on.

I went on to get a lack luster Chai Tea Latte and headed up the elevator to the top floor of my fabulous new digs. Cubed as I am, I love being in a fun office space with other creatives. I checked in there too, though some people think business check ins are not cool. I am not one of those people, providing you work in an office that does not offer a deal for services based on check ins. In other words, if you work at a bar or boutique you are banned from checking in so you don’t waste a hookup for a patron. 

Do a little Google (Topeka) magic on the subject and you will see a lot of people weigh in on their rules of checking in. To each his own on this, unless you cheat or add a duplicate record because you are too lame to double check your venue or do not spell it properly. The one thing I do get ornery about is when people add silly records like the highway or toll booth plazas. These clutter up the game and could be dangerous if you are driving while checking in. 

Public safety announcements aside, I finally found a new reason to not complain about all the random entries. I LOST my car! I played the part of space cadet for at least 15 minutes (a role I play well despite my high IQ) walking between levels to remember where my car may have been parked? I realized at that moment had I checked in on Level 11 of the parking garage, I would be getting in my car and not playing hide and go seek with it. Novel concept. I shared my moment of clarity with the DJ who thought this was cute.

I finally found my four wheel friend and took my show on the road (pun not intended, but it did work there). As I drove around to run errands, I got stuck behind this hotrod of horse power that seemed to think brushing her hair was more important then pushing the gas pedal. I was befuddled. I wanted her to check in on the side of the road and put a stop to this Marsha Brady 100 strokes a day hair brushing. She should have her hotrod privileges revoked and give that baby to someone one who will drive like she means it. Not me. I already lost one car today.

She finally got moving with her bad self and I was able to drive along to DSW where I had buyers rewards and would ultimately check in on Foursquare. I was on a specific mission for wedges and sandals and felt the best way to maintain accountability would be to shout that on my check in. Goal = wedges and sandals, must ignore heels. It’s a hard one for me. Higher the heel, happier the girl. 

Feeling fabulous and footloose (Again, she goes with the pun. I mean really?), I message the DJ that I am feeling very girly today. He responded with matched enthusiasm and *gasp* a grocery list. I said girly, not “to-do girly”? Or worse… domestic. 

I decide to take the list and own it. Best. Decision. EVER. 

I ousted the DJ as Mayor of Publix on Foursquare!!!! He has like 64 million check ins there and of all the days to take the title, I get the one themed Foursquare day or as it will now be known, the day I ousted the DJ and he still cooked me dinner.

Tags: Foursquare, I Ousted the DJ

Does Content Have an Expiration Date?

Success Expires on My 35th Birthday Day, Does Content?

“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgetten lore, while I nodded nearly napping. ” – Edgar Alan Poe

If you are familiar with this poem, it’s possible you wonder if I have been nearly napping or abandoned this blog altogether? Truth be told, I heard no rapping or tapping at my window. Of the things I have heard, I only wish I could sum up with such elegance as Mr. Poe. 

Instead, I find myself on a more shallow path and the quest to uncover a question that has been plaguing me.

Does blog content have an expiration date?

For new readers who may have stumbled upon this blog via Twitter or any other method of making your way here, welcome! You may not be aware that I have kept a few other now defunct blogs. Unless of course you count MySpace, which not many of us do anymore.

In an effort to connect with my creative self again, I decided to do some blog research and came across some really funny creative material. My old blog, Randomly Fabulous. This was by far one of my favorite explorations in blogging as it was the most raw, the most real and it appeared I had limited myself from all the corporate constraints, other people’s opinions and attempts to do anything other then what I know and love; WRITING. That was until I was told by previous employers, perspective employers (actually recruiters) that this style of writing was not going to do anything for my professional career. 

It was not that I was planning an evil conspiracy to attack anyone (former employers/mean girls/my constantly entertaining mother/people with an apparent lack of fashion sense) that caused the peanut gallery to ask me to retreat to my shell of an existence. It was the honesty. The true raw emotion of a writer, an observer. A person who genuinely enjoys the pleasure of watching life happening and writing about it in an entertaining manner.

Which leads me to my point… Does good content expire?

Upon conducting my research I found a series of old posts that with a little updating would still be funny today. Some of the posts that were relative to what was going on 3-5 years ago may not apply. Some are worthy of sharing and I wonder what my newer and loyal readers would think of the concept of having a throw back to the days of yonder, where my writing was not under a microscope (or if it was, I was blissfully ignorant)?

I know a lot of good bloggers that use old content to remain consistent. I am not talking about taking my journals from my formative years or my old ICQ or the lost geocities pages and trying to recreate content. I am focusing on blogs that were once posted that may be a nice little throw back for old and new readers.

I would love your feedback? Is this a blogging do or don’t? For other bloggers (writers at heart), do you always move fresh content forward or do you ever dig back in your archives for material when you have the arsenal to do so?

Tags: Best if used by 1/26/12, blog archives, Blog content, content expiration date, Journals, writing

Pay No Attention to the Blogger Behind the Curtain

 I have been writing almost everyday since I was very young. I started when my  Stepmother gave me one of the best birthday presents ever. I was 7 years old and my parents were in a War of the Roses style divorce. The present was a book filled with blank pages to write in and a black and white cover which you could color in yourself. I remember drawing and writing while locked in my bedroom. 

I wish I still had that book today. I can only imagine what kind of interesting detail I would have about during those years. Surely, there was some mention of why this woman was buying me a book when my parents divorce was barely finalized and she was already engaged to my father? Maybe I wrote about the time my brothers handcuffed me to the stairs and left the house for several hours? I could not tell you because I eventually destroyed the book.

Somedays I have vivid memories of my tumultuous childhood and feverishly write (or type) whatever comes to my mind. I have known since the day I received that empty book and after keeping a journal for over 20 years that I wanted to be a writer. When I started my first blog in 2005, I knew this was a great way to express myself and actually publicize some of my writing. Unfortunately, I was informed that the majority of my content was not necessarily the stuff Corporate dreams were made of. My day job was getting in the way of my dream job. I was approached by management and told to keep my thoughts to myself (urgh). 

Impossible. I started writing mostly on MySpace ignorantly thinking they would never find me if I hid my name. In 2006 my alter ego, Randomly Fabulous, took over and created a page on Blogspot. I loved her! She was the me I could not be at the time. Always honest, whip smart and ridiculously fabulous. I never paid a lot of attention to other bloggers or the blogs that told you how to blog. I found that distracted me from what I really wanted to do which was write and be me. I connected with my audience without any promotion or attempt to monetize the blog. I felt so liberated with my writing. I loved feeling like a part of me was out there even if it was semi-anonymous. I always used the same nicknames like calling my little brother Punk Rock or talking about The DJ. It could have been called Randomly Obvious. I didn’t care. I just loved writing.

I have every post saved, but sadly it’s not live anymore. I began to fear The Man. The industry I was working in at the time was very volatile and it was suggested that I take down all social media sites or make them private. I often told people my stalkers were to blame for the impulse removal of years worth of writing, but the truth is I did not want to lose my job or potential future endeavors. Thanks to the economy my job was eliminated anyway. It left me free to write whatever I wanted. Sort of. I still have to think about what future employers or perspective clients might think.

Which leads me to the point of this post (in case you wondered if I had one)… I have had a lot of conversations this week with people that want to know why I am not “writing” and I started to feel like some disclosure was necessary. The truth is, I am writing. Always. I am just not posting. Somewhere in the past year my neurosis took over and I feel a little lost inside myself. It’s not writers block because the words come to me everyday. It’s personal.

I’m dealing with what life has handed me in a less public manner (which totally sucks). Lately, most of my writing has revolved around darker days. I choose not to write a series of Debby Downer posts on here. I have bad days. I have bad months. I have bad breath first thing in the morning or after eating Sushi. I am not a bad writer though because I take a post pause for an undefined amount of time. There are no rules despite what you read on other blogs. Post frequency is entirely up to the author. On my professional or freelance writing projects, obviously I recommend posting more.  

Thank you to all that have reached out! I am so flattered that people enjoy my writing and care enough to ask for more. I am a notorious people pleaser, so ask and you shall receive. This was just little Friday night share for those that care. 

xo

Tags: Blah Blah Blah, Blog Pause, Friday Night Share, Journals, People Pleaser, Reflection, writing, Writing vs Posting

I’ve Been a Very Bad Blogger

Rule #76: No excuses, play like a champion!

Hey friends, readers and random stoppers by…

I feel I have let you down. I have not posted since October. All apologies. 

I have a myriad of excuses, several unpublished drafts, none of which matter or make up for my lack of publication. Most important, do you miss me? I miss you.

In an effort to make up for my shameful bad blogger behavior, I would love to share quick highlights of 3 unpublished posts:

1. Little Nail Shop of Horrors – This was a rant about a mani-pedi gone bad. If you stalk me on twitter you undoubtably caught the “Wincing in pain. WTF?” or other cries for help during this horrendous limb pulling, skin cutting, supposed to be relaxing spa experience. Ouch. It hurts just thinking about it.

2. G is for Google, that’s Good Enough for Me – It’s no secret I heart Google. I Google Bing. I Google Yahoo. I just Googled you while writing this. More details to follow when this post is ready for you. 

3. Everything I Aspire NOT to Be – It’s all about my Mom. This will be a frequent topic. It was in Randomly Fabulous (for new readers, RF was my  not-so anonymous old blog that no longer exists but is entirely backed up. Meaning: it will make my Memoir) and there was a whole series titled, Crazy Train. The most fitting nickname EVER. While I love my Mom dearly, there are years worth of her insanity therapy has yet to resolve. I may even add a second series on the MIL.

Before I bid you goodnight (it’s well after midnight EST), I would like to announce my eldest brother is blogging more then me. In a survey, four out of five siblings agreed he was least likely to blog. You absolutely must check out what he has to say at The Life & Technology of Eric Jaffe. I’m overwhelmed with excitement that he is finally sharing what goes on inside that ridiculously large brain of his. Keep it up E$$!!! I love you!

Now, how have you been? What are you blogging about? Why am I still awake when I have early meetings tomorrow? Sorry. Inner monologue issues induced by insomnia. Please feel free to ignore that last question. Or not.

As always, thanks for playing!

Tags: Bad Blogger, Eric Jaffe, Google, Insomnia Sucks, My Bro Blogs, Rule #76, Unnecessary Apologies

Take Your Summit and Suck It!

Let’s start by addressing the facts, people attend Summits for high level information for business and/or pleasure. We seek knowledge. Many seek income opportunities. Got it? Good.

Now, Fitness Info Summit. WTF?

My little brother attended this seminar last weekend. He was told that “Twitter is a waste of time” and “Traditional marketing is for lazy people”. I had to visit the crafty website a few times without counting the spelling errors to really absorb the message. 

WARNING! Superfluous spelling error example below:

If you make seven figures a day (per your batch report email from authorize.net) from doing nothing, surely you can pay a copywriter a few bucks to edit your awesomeness. No?

Furthermore, I am astounded by Chris’s story! See below:

He was homeless but owned a computer with internet access? Wow. I’d love to know more about this so I can share with the world. Maybe we can help save the homeless with the books and informational material they sold at the Summit?

And now back to reality.

There were a few positive little nuggets about passion and persistence displayed on the FIS website. In addition, I think the Scott guy is adorable with his cool as ice chuck taylors (trend alert) and fabulous dark jeans (always a Do!). I just don’t believe the hype. How can I? You refute an entire industry with unrealistic promises, false hope and fake stories.

Why would anyone encourage people to disengage their audience and then claim this technique gives you authority or credibility? Those are things you cannot fake or buy. Last time I googled, integrity is not for sale either.

I respect anyone who puts themselves out there and shares their secret sauce with the world. It’s actually quite the concept. Selling secrets. I think there is even a book called, The Secret. 

You should buy it NOW. What are you waiting for? I gave you the link. Maybe one of the beefy boys has an affiliate marketing arrangement with this link and will make $$$ while you read this? 

Maybe not.

Can you handle the TRUTH? I will give it to you. For FREE. Because I like you. All of you.

You will NOT make money reading this blog. You will probably NOT make money clicking any of my links. You will also NOT make money sneezing, but I don’t need to sell you that shit in a Summit!

You read it here first. There is no get rich quick scheme.  Call me crazy (if I don’t answer, my Mom will), but I believe there is no substitution for hard work. Passion and persistence will always pay off. Also,  honesty is ALWAYS the best policy.

Please note, I am not taking a stand against all forms of affiliate marketing. I am just taking issue with the way it was presented by this Summit and felt they should get some much needed feedback. 

Thanks for playing!

Tags: Affiliate Marketing, Fitness Info Summit, Make $ while sleeping, Stop the madness

Case Closed

If you are following, this is just a notice that I am closing the fact finding mission on the sabotage. 

Please note, the case has not been solved… just closed. 

It may have taken me 32.875 years to learn how to pick my battles, but lesson learned kimosabe! Need not waste time, energy or money in things that are beyond my control.

Once again, I thank you for playing!

Tags: case closed, game over