A Movie Weekend

Update: Removed link for site I no longer maintain.

I feel a little guilty for skipping the last three days of blogging. I made a commitment to blog daily in March, and I already broke it. I feel bad for that, but the trouble is that I wouldn’t want to change a thing. I had a wonderful weekend with my husband that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I hope you can forgive me :)

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You see, my husband surprised me (yay!) on Friday by coming home early from work so we could catch a matinee showing of Watchmen. Both of us had been looking forward to this movie. We’re fans of the superhero genre. Plus with Zack Snyder as director (we loved 300, 5 out of 5 stars), we figured that would make it all the more interesting. Well for the most part we were entertained, and I give it a solid 3 out of 5 stars (my rating system is explained briefly on the sidebar of my Books and Movies List).

Afterwards it was a nice, casual sushi dinner with decent live music at the Crossroads Mall food court. This place has a wonderful energy of community that’s hard to explain and which I’ve not found in another mall so far but was probably the original intent for the mall concept. I’ll have to tell you more about it some other time.

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Anyway, Saturday was another movie day. After a very late lunch, we finally got around to seeing He's Just Not That Into You. It was a cute movie that we both enjoyed. The characters were likable (though we only get to know them on a somewhat superficial level) with moments that had us either laughing or tearing up (just me on that one) a bit. It’s another 3 out of 5 stars with sugar on top. On a side note, I’m very grateful to my mom for never telling me that a boy did or said something mean to me because he liked me (that’s the basis in the movie for women’s dating predicaments).

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Finally, Sunday came and we decided to do a Deadwood marathon. As I mentioned in a previous post, we don’t have cable so we hadn’t seen this show yet though we heard so much about it from a friend. Well we’re about halfway through the series, and really liking it so far. (Thanks, Ken!)

Yeah, so you can see that we were on some movie kick this weekend and had a good time. Have you seen any good movies lately?

Hope and Fear

I was supposed to do a creative writing post today, but I just don’t seem to have it in me. So I’m doing a photo association instead.

When I see this photo, it seems to evoke a strange combination of hope and fear. Interestingly, it’s for the same association—the light at the end of the tunnel.

Hope because that light can signify the end of troubles, heavenly rewards, good times ahead…you get the idea.

Fear because it is the unknown. The light is vague and doesn’t make clear what’s on the other side. Certain sayings come to mind:

• Out of the pot and into the fire.
• Look before you leap.

Now that I think about it, some people would view success in the same way (though most probably don’t know it). They want it, work towards it, do almost anything for it. However when they get close, they fear it and sabotage their efforts. There are even books to deal with it, for example:

• From Sabotage to Success: How to Overcome Self-Defeating Behavior and Reach Your True Potential by Sheri O. Zampelli
• Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior by Mark Goulston, M.D. and Philip Goldberg

While writing this post, I started wondering if my fear is the fear of success or the fear of failure. According to this article, mine is more the fear of failure.

Regardless, if I don’t manage this fear, this fear will manage me. Ironically, either fear will bring the same result.

What does this photo evoke in you?

Photo source: by extranoise on Flickr

Plinky – A New Service to Inspire Your Blogging

Need help sparking that imagination of yours and getting those blogging juices flowing? I know I can use all the help I can get.

Well, last week I shared a list of things I’ve done to give my journal writing and this blog new momentum. Today I found and added a new service to that repertoire called Plinky. I hope to use it as another source of inspiration. They describe their service as such:

Plinky makes it easy for you to create inspired content. Every day we provide a prompt (i.e. a question or challenge) and you answer. We make it simple to add rich media and share your answers on Facebook, Twitter and blogs.

You can see the list of Plinky prompts already given. Looks like they just launched in late January 2009, so it’s still in its early stages and bound to have technical hiccups. Regardless, I'm signed up and willing to give it a go. Since Saturday is “anything goes” on my blogging schedule, that’s the most likely day when you’ll see a post from me through Plinky.

What do you think? Will I be seeing you there?

Photo source: "fireworks" by johnthescone on Flickr

Reducing my Pets’ Shedding

Today’s tip is a recommendation for the FURminator (Amazon link). It’s the best tool that I have in my dogs’ grooming kit. I have tried other brushes/tools for dealing with shedding, and this is the best so far. If you have cats, there’s a version of this tool for them too.

I have two sweet dogs, Pooh Bear and Lana. They certainly help keep life interesting. We got them both as rescues, and it’s always a wonder to me that anyone would give them up.

But let’s face it—dogs shed hair (some worse than others). If you don’t help them in some way with their shedding, they’ll shed all over you, your guests, and all over your house, car, clothes, etc. Ugh!

Buy on Amazon

Well, for me the FURminator deShedding Tool (Amazon link) is the way to cut down on shedding. When I first got mine about two years ago, I was shocked at how much hair came off with this tool in one sitting. It was also nice NOT having to stop every few swipes just to clear hair from the tool (like I’ve had to do with two different tools in the past). If you want to see it in action, the link has a video. BTW, I saw that same video at the pet store and thought they might be stretching the truth a little…nope!

It is pricey (I paid around $60 at the pet store for the large size), but if you shop around you shouldn’t have to pay so much. That’s what I get for impulse buying. Of course it will also be cheaper if you get a smaller size. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee from the manufacturer if for some reason it doesn’t seem to work out for your situation. All in all, even having paid the full price myself, it was worth it.

Have you tried this tool yourself? What other ways do you deal with shedding?

Photo Source: "Pooh Bear" and "Lana" by me :)

Giving Up Cable and Satellite TV

When we moved into our current home in 2000, I didn’t bother transferring our cable TV subscription over. With both my husband and I working long hours at Microsoft, there just didn’t seem to be a point at the time.

Though we no longer work those crazy hours, we find that we just don’t need cable or satellite TV. Our friends find this bizarre especially since we have a 64-inch TV wired to a 5.1 digital surround sound system. Though we take some ribbing, we just don’t care. With our personal DVD collection, as well as the use of the local library, Netflix, Hulu, and other internet sources, we get our fill of TV.

True we’re not up-to-date on the latest episodes, but at least we never wait long for the continuation ;)

Photo source: "Brainwashed" by Aaron Escobar on Flickr

Blogging Schedule for March 2009

In order to make a bull’s eye, you must first focus on your target and take aim. Well, I’m hoping that same concept works here.

I thought the best way to get me blogging daily is to give myself a blogging schedule—each day is a different topic (target) to focus on. I don’t know why I didn’t try this before; setting up editorial calendars (same concept) is a no-brainer for me when managing huge company websites.

Anyway, here’s my schedule:

• Monday: Something About Me. A day for memories, self-reflection, or just fun facts.
• Tuesday: Tips & Tricks. Sharing simple and quick tips in a wide range of areas—money, tech, health, relationships, home life, etc.
• Wednesday: Web World. Navigating the online world and pointing out good stuff along the way.
• Thursday: Creative Writing Thru Pictures. Using images as triggers (being a visual person that I am), I’m hoping this will have a cathartic effect and allow me to express myself in creative ways.
• Friday: Fun Day. Taking a moment to laugh, smile, relax, and maybe an idea or two for fun diversions.
• Saturday: Anything Goes. Having some flexibility in any schedule is important, so this is my day to go crazy.
• Sunday: State Of The Blog Address. Reporting on any news or developments regarding this blog. For example, this post ;)

By the way, this month’s NaBloPoMo theme is GIVING (UP). Their newsletter describes it this way:

…you can write about what you give to your friends, your job, your world, or yourself every day. That "up" in parentheses gives you the option to also write about things you're throwing out, quitting, recycling, or eliminating from your life right now.

I don’t know if I’ll stick to this theme all month but it would be a nice challenge to try to incorporate it with the above schedule.

Have you tried a posting schedule? What were your results in using it?

Photo source: "force india" by B. Sandman on Flickr

Curing Writer’s Block

When it comes to journaling, I’m perpetually in writer’s block. I never fail to find myself staring at a blinking cursor or a blank notebook paper. My productive moments were haphazard at best--short bursts of writing followed by insanely long silences. It seemed that I only knew what to write when I was feeling some intense emotion.

Well, I WANT to change all that. To give this new blog some momentum and my journaling some focus, I’ve done the following:

• Joined NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). Although prizes are only awarded in November, they do have monthly themes to help give focus. I don’t have to follow the theme religiously, but it’s there to fall back on. I do agree that limits can sometimes “free us to think in new ways” (Source: FAQ).
• Consolidated all my journaling blogs into one. Yes, I had three different blogs--one focused on creative writing, another on picture captioning, and lastly on typical memoir journaling. Well, over the weekend I transferred all posts written since the start of 2009 (plus an introduction) from those blogs into this one.
• Created a daily posting schedule. Yet another way to help give me focus. I will post that schedule on March 1st, and begin using it then.
• Set up a “tickler” file. Now, when I like a quote, recall an interesting memory to share, or whatever passing thought or info that could help tickle out a good post from me, I’ll record it in Evernote for future reference. Actually I’ve been collecting these ideas for some time now, so I hopefully have a healthy buffer already.

Ok, that’s it for now. I will share more when I think of them. :)

What do you do to help keep a steady stream of posts happening on your blog?

Photo source: "If I Had Something to Say" by re_birf on Flickr

In Honor of a Man and His Dream

Excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr. speech at Civil Rights March in Washington D.C., August 28, 1963:

Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed---'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'

Photo source: "Martin Luther King Jr." from the National Archives and Records Administration NARA)

Predator

With cold calculation he watches, waits. Waiting for the object of his desire to make a mistake, any mistake. Only one seemingly insignificant slip of attention is all it takes, all he needs.

There it is! Quick like lightening, he is a wraith, singular in focus. His intent is clear---end this chase. With swift, sure reflexes the prize is won; he has his prey. He is beautiful in his power. He is deadly in his grace.

Is he man or is he beast?

Photo Source: "Der Steppenwolf" by Idea-Listic on Flickr and "Hawkeye" by jurvetson on Flickr, respectively

Tentative Beginnings

Robert Anthony once said:

Courage is simply the willingness to be afraid and act anyway.

Today's picture pretty much sums up how I'm feeling about this blog right now, but the quote is helping to give me perspective. Anyway, here's my stab at poetry...I'm hoping that someday I'll get better ;)

Though the distance is far
The path unclear
The steps uncertain
The dangers unknown

I am called forward
Heeding the siren call
Beckoning, calling
The sweet promise urges

So, I will take my first steps
Tentative and shaky and unsure
But somewhere I’ll find
The will to find my courage.

Photo source: "IMGP5206-LR01" by suneko on Flickr

Conversation Starter

Nothing scares me more than facing a crowd whether real or virtual. Will they accept me or turn away? Will they acknowledge me or ignore me? Umm, which is better?

Oh the agony, the uncertainty... Ahh, but there it is, the true crux of the situation---not knowing. Well, only one way to find out---stick out your hand (again, real or virtual) and say hello!

It's just a handshake, right? What's the worst that can happen?

Photo source: "Barack Works the Crowd" by Rusty Darbonne on Flickr

To Live or Do Nothing?

Robert Anthony suggests:

Live as though it were your last day on earth. Some day you will be right.

Photo source: "Portrait of an articulated skeleton on a bentwood chair" from the Powerhouse Museum Collection on Flickr

Hold still and let me look!

An aspiring dentist perhaps?

Photo source: "Excessive love" by suneko on Flickr

Here I come!

Quote from Carl Sandburg:

I’m an idealist. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.

Photo source: "IMG_0343.jpg" by evanbdudley on Flickr

Darker Desires

According to Jean-Luc Godard:

Art attracts us only by what it reveals of our most secret self.

Photo source: "bound, black and white" by preciouskhyatt on Flickr

The Quiet Pitter-Patter of Rain

Originally posted on November 7, 2008 on a previous blog of mine:

My thoughts weighed heavily on my mind last night. As I waited for sleep to come, I slowly became aware of the soft, tinkling pitter-patters of the falling rain just outside our window, and my focus began to turn.

The varied soothing tones made it easy to imagine the path that the rain takes as it falls from the sky. It’s descent slows as it filters through the fingered branches of a tree just a few yards away, half it’s leaves barely holding on. From there the rain tumbles down onto the lush, succulent green leaves of a rhododendron bush–more like a tree as it’s highest leaves reach beyond 6 feet–that sits just beyond and to the side of our window. Finally nearing the end of its journey, the droplets trickle softly onto a garden bedding of river rocks and fresh fallen leaves before seeping into the ground.

Pulling back from my imaginings, I found myself soothed, my mind calm, my worries safely tucked away for the moment. With my husband’s reassuring presence next to me, I nestled deeper into the covers and drifted into dreams.

I’m not sure I succeeded but wanted to share the surreal feeling I got, considering that rain is a common occurrence in the Seattle area particularly in the midst of the fall season.

Could you hear the rhythm of the falling rain?

Photo source: "Fall in Rain 1" by *clairity* on Flickr

Knock, Knock…Is this thing on?

Hi there! I’m Neelie Meier and this blog will be my journal, my outlet to share personal thoughts, ideas, memories, and smiles.

I’m not sure who else will care about this stuff (other than my family, of course), but if others get something out of it, all the better. I’d certainly love to hear from my readers; there’s nothing like a good conversation to start new friendships. :)

Ok, that’s it for now. See ya later!

Photo source: "U87" by Tanki on Flickr