Wordless Wednesday

Springer Gets Nixed

Plagued with a headache I stayed home from work.  Back in the old days when I took a sick day I would lay around and watch daytime TV with all its commercials aimed toward unemployed and injured people.  I hated being talked to like I didn't know what I was doing, as in calling the right ambulance chaser lawyer or furthering my education to procure a lucrative position in a greasy spoon successful business.

I stopped watching daytime TV with its screaming audiences, melodramatic plots, and overly enthusiastic contestants.

But I have a headache.  What else am I supposed to do?

The TV did not come on at all, but the computer did.  However, unlike my friend Mary Ann I was not glued to a screen of Spider Solitaire or even Bejeweled.  I took care of my computer business and went on to more pressing chores like finishing up the laundry, cleaning the bathroom, and washing dishes.  Holiday weekends cause me to fall behind in my duties as housekeeper and it was just proper that I ignore the throbbing pain in my head and the fuzzy blind spot in my eye to take care of the business at hand.

I'm glad I didn't turn on the TV.  Didn't even turn on the stereo.  I was as focused as I could be while in massive headache mode.  Makes me think that when I have a stroke or heart attack I'll be able to clean the oven while waiting for the ambulance to come and take me to the hospital.  Knowing that is so much more satisfying than watching Jerry Springer.

Prove To Me That You're No Fool ~ Walk Across My Swimming Pool

I hope everyone had a happy Easter holiday.  I spent some time in church, some time with family, and way too much time eating candy.  Halloween and Easter ~ I think lots of us are like kids when it comes to these holidays and the indulgence in candy.  Doesn't matter how old we get.

When I returned home from all the festivities I was surprised to see TCM was offering Jesus Christ Superstar as the evening's 7:00 movie.  Well, maybe surprised isn't the right word.  It made perfect sense that it was showing on Easter, but I've not seen it in the TV listings in, like, ever.

I remember the first time I saw JC Superstar.  I was twelve years old and was allowed to walk down to the Cini Capri theater with Charlotte and her friend (who were fourteen) for the matinee showing.  I guess my mom figured our seeing a movie about Jesus would be harmless enough.

The movie came out in 1973 and was about the coolest thing I could imagine.  Except for, well, Jesus was really cute and they did those dastardly things to him.  Charlotte, her friend and I walked home after the movie, bawling the whole way.  Well, I know I was bawling.  I can't remember for sure if they were, but I like to remember it that way.  Three young girls walking home, crying over what they did to Jesus.  I guess it made an impact.

Watching it on Easter evening brought back memories of spending a hot summer afternoon with the big kids in a dark, air conditioned theater.  We were uber cool (what would Father Finn have said?!) taking in the hippie spin on the story of Jesus.  And I'm sure I' m not the only one who thought Herod's song was about the most bizarre thing to happen to a Bible story ever.  It's my favorite.



Jesus Christ Superstar is a classic worth watching if for nothing more than the whole early '70s interpretation of The Passion. It focuses on psychological conflict rather than blind faith. For a little twelve-year-old girl it told a story much better than a stuffy old man in a pulpit ever could.

Hipster Store Passes On Opportunity Of A Lifetime

Remember when I was acting all brave and proud because I submitted an application to consign at a particular brick and mortar shop?  It took me months to screw up the courage to just send the e-mail, but I faced my insecurities and fears and just did it.  Yay for me! I said.  Well, guess what? 

REJECTED!

Yep.  I've been having a rough time of it trying to get my business act together despite my courageous and brazen ways.  There are several tweeks I've been trying to make without much luck.  With the rejection letter I got from this particularly desirable store I thought about falling to pieces, packing up everything and going home, never to play with the big kids again.  But then I thought again.

There's no reason to take this personally, I told myself.  This is business, and someone made a business decision that didn't include me.  That's all there is to it.  I can live with that.  So instead of packing up and going home I reopened my e-mail and saw I had made another sale in my Etsy shop.  That sale did a lot more than soothe my hurt feelings.  It inspired me to open up a whole new online shop.

You see, the sale I made was for the WWMPD magnet, which has been the bulk of my sales since I opened my new Etsy shop in February.  For some reason, this particular sale made me think about opening a shop at Zazzle. 

Zazzle can do things Etsy can't, and vice versa.  So why not have two shops?  I'm starting out with the WWMPD design, which is available at my Zazzle shop in t-shirts, aprons, and mugs. 

I especially like this design on the burly guy wearing the t-shirt.

So what d'ya think of me now?!  I'll be taking it slow on Zazzle for the time being, but WWMPD products are available immediately. 

What could have turned out to be a dismal afternoon of dejection turned out to be one of navigating a new venue, redesigning my original image to suit new products, and generally feeling more empowered than ever.  Thanks, hipster store, for rejecting me.  It forced me to ask "What would Mary Poppins do?"  I think she would approve of my positive reaction to a disappointing situation.  A special thanks too, to the person who most recently bought the WWMPD magnet.  You made a difference in a way you'll never know.

Wordless Wednesday

Step Away From Your Attempts And Be Amazed

Do you ever feel like you're just trying too hard?  Sometimes that thought occurs to me and I have to just step away.

Trying too hard is different than simply trying. There's a desperation in trying too hard.  Grasping, clawing, rationalizing your way to the goal you think you want.  You make hurried, half-hearted attempts as the clock ticks away the minutes, days, and years you haven't reached your goal.  The trying, the unsuccessful trying over and over again could be just the thing that prevents you from attaining that goal.

My nephews have a creativity in them that is astounding.  One evening they were telling the story of a character they made up together.  This character has been alive for them since they were very small boys.  There are intricate details to the character's life that the boys know by heart, as though this character was an actual person in their lives.  These boys I speak of, my nephews, are pretty much grown by now and still refer to this make-believe character and add aspects to his life still.

I told them how interesting it was to hear about this character, and how it seemed the "story" came to them so easily.  I commented on their vivid imaginations and how much I admired their creative thinking.  I envied them and said so.  Why can't a story with that much imagination just flow from me like that? I asked.  One of my nephews said immediately and simply, "you're trying too hard."  Brilliant insight from someone thirty-five years younger than me.

Perhaps it is desperation that leaves me frustrated,  like the artist who can't get the lighting just right in his painting or the author toiling over the perfect words.  Maybe it's better to just walk away for a while, to gain a different perspective.  Why isn't my plan working out exactly how I envisioned?  I'm trying too hard.

This can all be summed up with the sentiment in a card Husby gave me once.  Take the world lightly, and see how easy things become.

I'm going to experiment with this theory and broaden my field of vision.  Instead of focusing so mightily on one aspect of my life and being disappointed, I'm going to give more attention to other parts of my life.  I'm going to see if stepping away from the desperate trying will perhaps lighten my mood and my attitude.  I'll keep trying, just not so hard.

So what do you think of that?

Ammonia, Vinegar, And Murphy's Oil Soap

I've talked about spring cleaning a lot on this blog.  Every year I fail to complete all the tasks on my list, but still partake in the ritual as much as I can and as much is absolutely necessary. 

Slow and easy is my method this year.  Just a little at a time so it doesn't seem so overwhelming.  The rumpus room was my focus this past weekend.  The furniture was vacuumed and the windows were washed.  The baseboards were vacuumed and cleaned and the woodwork washed.  Lampshades were and light bulbs were vacuumed.  I feel like such a homemaker when I actually put those vacuum cleaner attachments to work.

I didn't tackle washing the walls, but they totally need it.  It's a daunting task to be sure as I have a vaulted ceiling in the rumpus room.  I procrastinate, sometimes for years, on any job that requires a ladder.

Despite a mid-April snow shower and very chilly temperatures my spring cleaning tasks are getting checked off slowly but surely.  Maybe the snow is what motivated me ~ just like the snow that aroused Dorothy in a field of poppies.