High School Again

I just finished reading Sweet Valley Confidential, the ten-years-later book about the famous identical twins, Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. I read the Twins, High, and University books as a tween and teen, so obviously I had to read the adult version.

I loved it for the memories it brought up. It is not a great piece of literature, but it isn’t supposed to be. It was just what I needed to read to get me back to reading.

Reading it of course brought me back a decade or so, and reading about their drama makes me remember mine. And makes me so glad that I am not in high school anymore. I loved high school – I learned a lot, I had great friends, I did lots of theatre and dance – but I hated all the drama.

And then I found myself facing a little high-school-esque drama today. Or was my imagination clouded by the memories brought up by this book…?

I have been teaching a yoga class for post-natal moms. Babies too, though they mostly lie around or nurse. But the moms can come and do basic yoga and if the babies cry or need to nurse, it is no big deal. Ah, so nice.

But some of my students reminded me of the girls in high school who I always felt didn’t like me. I don’t want to assume, so I will own the feeling. Something about the way these students treated me, talking during class, taking photographs of their babies (who were totally adorable and photo-worthy), coming late…it was weird.

I am super sensitive. They were probably not being intentionally rude to me. But wow, I felt like I was back in high school. I never know what to do in those situations, so  I do nothing. Doesn’t seem to help.

I overheard them telling another student that they aren’t taking the class during the next series. And I felt relief.

In high school I would have felt so sad, for it would have been a sure sign that they hated me. Now, I don’t care, and I’m glad to feel confident in my own class.

But still, I hate that I can let other people get me down.

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How am I writing this posting at 9pm? Abraham is sleeping alone and David is on his way home from work.

Post-Poop Happiness

 

Baby Books

What is your favorite book from your childhood? Or your child’s childhood?

Just looking to expand our collection…

My favorite:

 

Room

I want to live in this room.

from Design Sponge – thanks!

Which reminds me. I just read a freaking fantastic book – Room by Emma Donoghue. I won’t tell you the details because you should read it as soon as you can, but it is written from the 5 year old’s point of view, in his language. He lives in a room, 11×11 with his mother and he has never been out of the room. You’ll have to read it (seriously, go read it now) to find out why.

Inspiration/Perspiration

Though I haven’t read his books (gasp!), I enjoy reading Seth Godin‘s blog.

This particular article (entry, update, post…) caught my fancy – it is about finding inspiration, something I feel I have been lacking lately. He is thinking about it in terms of business, I think, but inspiration is inspiration.

I think of the Picasso quote, I do not seek I find.

The main idea from the article:

The second method challenges the fear and announces that you’ve abandoned the resistance and instead prepared to ship. Your first idea might not be good, or even your second or your tenth, but once you dedicate yourself to this cycle, yes, in fact, you will ship and make a difference.

Simple example: start a blog and post once a day on how your favorite company can improve its products or its service. Do it every day for a month, one new, actionable idea each and every day. Within a few weeks, you’ll notice the change in the way you find, process and ship ideas.

So. Challenge the fear. Do, do, and do again. Every day.

I don’t know if I’m really ready to take that on. But if not now, when?

I Write Like

As you know (or maybe not), I love reading blogs. I have recently discovered the voyeuristic aspect of my personality (thanks blogs and Facebook). The internet allows me to read what other people are thinking and look at photos of their lives – it’s fascinating.

So here is great link I found on one of the blogs I subscribe to, the Real Delia. Check her out. Check out the link.

It is a webpage/program called I Write Like. David could explain the math behind it (I think I missed the day we learned about algorithms). Basically, you put a writing sample in, it analyzes it with secret codes and magic (aka algorithms) and tells you who you write like. I tried two different samples of writing – first I got Stephen King, which is ok but not ideal. Then I got Margaret Atwood, which is sort of the best I could hope for. So I stopped.

We even look alike...no?

Who do you write like?

A Squirrel Peed on my Yoga Mat

I posted this as my facebook status last night. Because it happened. Here’s how (incase you are looking for similar adventure):

1. leave your yoga mat in the car
2. leave your windows open on a warm day
3. enter squirrels
4. when you approach and see the squirrel in the car, shout “holy sh*t, a squirrel is in my car,” and scare the piss out of it

My friend Margie suggested I write a book with that as the title. It might be the most appropriate thing to do. I so sometimes feel like I get something good going on (yoga) something comes along to wreck it, or at least disturb the goodness (squirrel pee). There is a lesson here of course, a decision I have to make: how do I react when the squirrel pees? Better, how do I react when the squirrel trespasses my person property? Can I flip it around and see that my car was in the squirrels space?

Perhaps the book will be about how to use yoga to deal with the squirrel pee of life. Perhaps it will be a children’s book about why cursing is bad. Perhaps I should make a radio show about it and send it to This American Life. Ira Glass would love it.

I'm sort of obsessed