Snow, babies, and I’m back

Posted by random olio

It has been a strange week. I have felt like there is a cord loose in my brain. This crud that is going around, has made the wiring inside me be off, and yesterday I think I started to feel more like myself (2 weeks later). Let’s hope that it stays, as I am pining to get back on my run schedule, and if it is up to Chris he would hide my running shoes until he knows I am 100% again. Good hubby. Good thing I have a few pairs of running shoes I can lace up and go. Here is hoping I have the energy.

my favorite lit tree with snow

Yesterday, Portland was coated with a fairly deep layer of snow. Yes, snow in Portland! Such a fun and beautiful surprise. However, we are supposed to have snow later today and tomorrow, so for Portland that means mass mayhem, chaos, and well staying in. Us Portlanders are not used to snow, and even though I am a transplant, my blood has thinned gradually over the last ten years. I spent a good part of my life in the midwest, a chunk of years in Boston, and now Portland has weakened the heartiness to shoveling snow and cold enough temperatures to have snow grace our world. Call me a wuss, but I am done with snow.

Being done with the crud, a bit of snow, and a little time yesterday with a colleague’s twin babies, has mellowed my outlook, and given me a few moments to slow down. I had a few frustrating moments yesterday, and the moment I had a 10 month old in my arms, all my thoughts melted away. I no longer cared about what was bugging me, I just wanted to make them laugh and smile, and nothing else really mattered. Ah, what unconditional love can do to let go of things that do not really matter.

Amazing what a little snow, two babies, and no more crud can do to your outlook on life. Happy Friday!

A precious love story

Posted by random olio

A friend recently told me about a book to read, by Gene Wilder (think The Producers, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory). I was curious just by the mere fact that Gene Wilder wrote a book (although it is his fourth), and a love story at that. It takes place during World War II, and usually that would not be my genre of book to read. I am not normally into love stories and I am not usually into war piece books, but I decided to hold it at the library. What did I have to lose?

“Something to Remember You By” by Gene Wilder was a quick read (at 164 pages), but so very precious. The story line moves fast and you do not want to put it down. I could definitely see it made into a movie. I do not want to give you too many details about the story line, but rather I encourage you to pick it up, curl up on the couch and in a few short hours, you’ll have a satisfied smile on your face.

Why you may ask? It makes me think about life in simpler times. Think before smart phones, and apps, and all the crazy lives we live. Oh, you have lost that memory? I am not so old that technology is hard for me to adapt to, part of my schooling was technology free and part of it was full of technology and the Internet. I am, however, old enough to know what life was like before we were fully consumed by our gadget filled lives. What do I mean, and where is this going? I can remember a time when you would go to a restaurant with the love of your life, and not care what was happening on Facebook, or the news, or in your inbox, and you just sat and enjoyed the precious one sitting across from you.

Even though I was not even a speck of an idea during World War II, “Something to Remember You By” reminds me of a time before our gadget addiction when you would sit down in a restaurant and enjoy each and every moment of that meal. I want that. I want my brain to shut down, and my fingers to stop typing, and my every gadget to stop buzzing. I want more meals in restaurants that allow me to turn it all off focus on my precious one. Do you struggle with turning it all off? If so, start with reading this short novel, sit back and ponder what you can do to unplug and enjoy your loved ones World War II style.

Gratitude for the little things

Posted by random olio

After a long weekend, curled up on the couch dealing with the throat, nose, and head, I am finally starting to feel better. Feeling rotten for so many days (and not getting to run in over a week) makes me grateful for the normalcy of everyday life. Is it not true that we are more grateful for what we have when we have a period of time away from the goodness of life? Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

Usually that line goes hand in hand with someone you love. When they are away from you, you miss them. These last few excruciating days have made me miss my normal life (as crazy as it normally is). There is something to be said for that hour a day I get to myself to run and read. It grounds me. Not feeling 100% means I do not want to exert the extra energy for a run, especially if it means that energy is needed to just get through my day.

Today I am grateful that I am feeling better and for the little bits of normal each day that keep me grounded. Even if normal means a run a day, closeness with my hubby (we’ve stayed away from each other so he would not get this yucky gunk), and just the energy and drive that a normal day brings.

What are you grateful for today?

Most important thing today?

Posted by random olio

You are bombarded with items on your to-do list. Some are large-scale projects, some have longer time lines than others, and then you have all those pesky little details you have to track. Call ____ back, email ____, follow-up on ____. There are days when my to-do list is mind-boggling, and there is not enough time in the day to get through the list. How do I coordinate and prioritize what I need to do each day?

First, I am old school. I still work with a notebook. My phone, pen, and notebook are always with me when at work. My phone keeps me up-to-date on emails, texts, and phone calls during the day and alerts me if any priorities have to shift. I might not have time to respond or handle a request, but based on the individual and the urgency of the need, I can still respond quickly (during a lull in a meeting or while walking to my next meeting) and let the individual(s) know when they can expect a response from me. My notebook keeps me on target with what I need to get done. I should also own stock in Post-Its. On the front of my notebook there is a Post-It, and sometimes there are many Post-Its. Anything that makes it to the front of my notebook means it has been escalated to: “needs to happen today or this week.” Somehow this process works for me. Yes, I go through quite a few Post-Its, but I find that colorful, visible reminders help me tackle what needs to happen each day. My iPhone is great, but it does not yell at me in the same way.

So when I read the article: “Why You Need a Daily Prioritization Meeting” from 99u.com, I thought this list could help me and wanted to share in case it helps in your daily prioritization:

“1. Do I really have to do this now?

2. If so, is it “The Most Important Thing?”

3. If not, where does it fit relative to the other tasks?

4. Is someone waiting on me for this?

5. If so, when do they need it?

6. Does working/not working on this now have long-term consequences that I’m missing?”

I thought these were great questions that can be asked each day (and throughout the day). Sometimes there are so many items on my to-do list that I just want to be able to cross them off so I do not have to look at them anymore. Other times I want to focus on getting all the little things done so I can feel like I can focus on the larger projects and not have to think about the nitty-gritty.

What do you do to help prioritize your day?

2014 Best Super Bowl ad

Posted by random olio

I have hemmed and hawed over the years about what is my favorite part about Super Bowl Sunday. I can remember as a kid watching William Perry “The Refrigerator” who played for the Chicago Bears. It was probably the first Super Bowl that I actually remember, circa 1985 with “The Super Bowl Shuffle.” Since we did not have a television growing up, we often ended up splayed out in my grandma’s living room to watch each year, with food and pop (that is what we called it in the Midwest), and for me an introduction into the world of football. Can you believe that The Super Bowl Shuffle went on to earn a gold record, platinum video, and a Grammy nomination? Go figure.

In any case, over the years I learned that NFL football teams do not usually create music videos or receive Grammy nominations, yet watching the Super Bowl has always been an event that has happened in my life. I am not a die-hard football fan, I watch, I understand about 75% of what is happening (thank you high school football cheerleading) and when the game is dull for whatever reason, there is the company, and the commercials.

About those commercials. I know you remember ones from year to year. The classic Budweiser, Coca-Cola, and often the competing car companies. It used to be that you could not fast forward through the commercials, so they were just as much a part of the Super Bowl as the half time show. Even though we have a DVR, and rarely watch commercials, the Super Bowl is one night when we actually watch them. Maybe all those companies that pay 4 million dollars for a 30 second spot will thank us. It is one of the few days a year when advertising is at its finest (well most years).

Before I tell you about my favorite ad for the 2014 Super Bowl, let me remind you that I grew up in the Midwest, and my dad had an interesting sense of humor. At times I know his sense of humor has rubbed off on me. Each year, Doritos has a contest to find the best Super Bowl ad. My favorite this year was a finalist, but was not aired during the Super Bowl (even though it had over 3 million views on YouTube). This ad would have made my dad laugh hard. It made me laugh, think of him, and imagine for a moment watching him laugh. For that reason, it is my favorite Super Bowl ad for 2014 (even though it did not air). Sometimes the simplest ideas can be the funniest. Enjoy!