Wearing a Skirt

So, today I ironed a skirt to put on before going to work. It's actually rather unusual for me to wear a skirt to work. I'm not sure why. I have several very cute skirts that I enjoy wearing. I have a meeting this evening at church and I'm not sure how much time I'll have between work and church for changing, so it seemed like a good idea. And I must say that it looks really cute. Yay for me!

While ironing my skirt, I remembered that my mother made me wear a skirt to school once a week when I was in elementary school. It was definitely not the rush-from-school-to-church, no-time-to-change skirt wearing. It was the you're-a-girl-so-you-should-look-like-one-by-wearing-a-dress skirt wearing. I hated it. I was one un-liberated woman in the early seventies, I tell you. I even had to wear a dress in the winter. I'd wear tights, and the requisite shorts underneath so I could still play on the equipment at recess without fearing that some boy might see my undies. I'm still a little amazed at the fights my mother was willing to fight. Of course, this one can't compare to the you-just-sit-there-and-practice-the-piano-for-15-minutes fight. Now, that's one I still look up to my mother for. She was champ at not giving in.

Now that I don't sleep with gum in my mouth, forcing the short haircut and my figure clearly indicates that I'm all woman, I guess I don't see the need to wear a skirt to show my feminity. These days it's all about what makes me feel comfortable and confident when I venture out in public. Usually it's pants, but today it's a a loden green fine-wale courdoroy skirt with eyelet cutouts at the hem. Lovely.

Detoxing Seattle, One Cleanser at a Time

Last Friday, I joined forces with An Ordinary Mom and went to my first bloggers event, sponsored by Seattle Mom Blogs. It was hosted by Method and was held at an eco-friendly home in West Seattle. We met some wonderful blogging Mamas and learned how to make some organic cocktails and mocktails.

The best part was going home with some of the wonderful products, extra coupons for more, and the "cleans like a mother" t-shirt. I'm not one to advertise for free, but I love their stuff. Also, it's not just a Target brand, like I thought. Proof -- the DH and I went to the grocery store and bought some Method hand soap with one of the coupons.

And no, I don't know what that look on my face is in this picture.

First Days and Fresh Starts

I always loved the first day of school. I’d plan for days ahead of time what I was going to wear. We’d all gotten new school clothes, so I wanted to wear the best outfit to make the best impression. I loved meeting my new teachers and seeing which old friends I had classes with. Now that I’m out of school, I’ve struggled with the fact that it’s hard to really start new on much of anything and, even worse, not much that we do as adults has closure. There’s nothing like a final exam to tell you that something is over, really over.

Starting a new job yesterday felt a little like starting a new school year. There were a few familiar faces. Everyone was very kind. I was a little excited to see where I would be sitting and who I would be sitting near. I’m excited about the new work and it was kind of cool to really end some other things last week as I wrapped up the old job. I was happy to have someone to eat lunch with and there are many people that I will learn from.

And, just like the first day of school, I spent way too much time worrying about what I would wear the first day.

JH Makes His Royal Debut

Here's a shout out to the Duke and Duchess on their new son JH! He made his debut earlier today. Although he came 25 days early, you'd never know it by his 7 lbs. 2 oz. and healthy lungs.

We're so happy for our friends!

Ready to Look Fear in the Face

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.
~Eleanor Roosevelt

Tomorrow is my last day at Microsoft. I almost chickened out of it yesterday, but I really am leaving. I’m leaving the strong reviews, the excellent benefits, the caring team, and the supportive management team. Did I mention that I’m leaving behind the excellent benefits?

When I came to Seattle, I did it so I could eventually get a job at Microsoft. It’s a great place to work and I didn’t believe any of the rumors about how it could suck your soul dry. And I don’t think it sucked my soul dry. It did make me tired, and even occasionally cranky, but that’s just because I have a job with responsibility. It’s not specific to the company I work for. And yesterday, I was more or less given a great offer for a new and different job at Microsoft that would have been sort of easy. Not that I wouldn’t have to work for it, but it would have been right in my comfort zone. I guess I’m just not into comfort right now. I’m into fear.

Starting Monday, I’m doing the thing that scares me quite a bit. I’m leaving the security of Microsoft to work for a company called Aquent as Vice President of Studios. I’ll be covering the Microsoft account, which should come as no surprise. I’m actually very concerned about my ability to fulfill expectations in the new job. I have that lump in my stomach, scared that I won’t be able to provide the leadership and direction that they need from their vice president. Scared that they might just see me as one more in a string of leaders who couldn’t deliver. And then there’s the fear that some of the people who know me from previous work will be shocked and disappointed that I would be hired as their leader. All the insecurities that I don’t usually let anyone see are boiling, causing that lump in my stomach.

It would be much easier to stay, to continue doing the work that I’ve mastered, to work with people whose respect I’ve already earned, and to hate the commute. But right now, right here, I’ve decided to do the thing that is a big gamble. I’m doing the thing that scares me and has kept me awake more nights over the last few weeks than I’d like to count. I want to face the big challenges, if not without fear, then at least with the knowledge that I am doing the thing that I fear. I’m doing the thing that will help me gain strength, courage, and confidence.

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I've enter this post in Scribbit's October Write-Away Contest.

Fun with Photos

I had all kinds of fun with the Hockneyizer.

You can try it too if you go here.

Just Join the Craze

I got a nice little bonus from work in September, so after putting a bunch of it on the home equity line, I decided to do something fun. I went out and bought a Wii. I got it a couple of weeks ago, but I have too many gadgets attached to the TV and just couldn't figure out how to get it to work.

After asking all my friends and neighbors, none of whom could help, I got the able assistance of my brother. He rocks. After about five minutes on the phone, the Wii was up and running. Brilliant!

The DH and I played tennis, bowling, and golf to break in the new system. Just for the record (not that we're counting), the DH kicked my behind in Tennis, but I won the golf match and had a lovely come-from-behind victory in bowling. (Let's hear it for a strike on the last frame!)

The Wii is great because it actually requires you to get up and move around, and I mean more than just your thumbs. Both of us were laughing so hard and hoping we wouldn't have soar shoulders or elbows today. I think I'm OK, but I didn't check in with the DH to see how he was doing. Of course, they make the same old video games that you just sit and play like the other game consoles, but we didn't get any of those.

Tonight we'll try out the Wii Play games. I'm looking forward to beating the DH at tank and fishing games.

Fantasy Football? I'd Rather Not

You may know that my DH participates in a Fantasy Football league with his two sons. They play a fantasy game each week with their carefully selected teams. The DH has lost a few games, but it's all good clean fun (except for the smack talk from some of those filthy boys in the league).

I'm no real fan of football, fantasy or otherwise, but my sister Annzy has thought up the best Fantasy Team sport ever. Fantasy Family!

Check out her blog about her Fantasy Family League. It's great! If you're game, you can even set up your own Fantasy Family League. Because she's my sister, it seems like it would be just silly for me to re-invent the same family in fantasy, so you'll just have to bask in the glory of her rendition of our family.