Crowd Tap

I've joined CrowdTap. To be completely honest, I'm still not 100% sure what exactly it is, but I saw a newspaper article on it saying it was the next big, up and coming social networking thing. *shrugs* Anyway, what you do is discuss products via polls, discussion boards, etc. to start off. You earn points by participating. As you participate you are invited to to participate in more and more things, which supposedly will eventually be getting free sample stuff. I like free stuff! Then with the points, when you get a certain amount, you can trade them in for gift cards to select retailers. The only one currently available to me that I'm interested in is Amazon, but I love to read and you can get other cool stuff on Amazon too. Also along with the points you earn, you earn a cash donation to a charity organization that you get to pick from amongst those that are participating. I picked Invisible Children, because they rock. So I'm in. Are you?

Ok ok. If you join, I get some points. There I said it. Be a pal to me, a charity and yourself, just check it out.

New Adventures

Just a little note to those that care about our new adventures in the Rio Grande Valley.

The move was successful. You never realize just how much junk you have until you have to move it. Luckily for us, my new employer agreed to pay for movers! Praise God! So we've got all our junk in the house, now we just gotta put it where it belongs... that's the hard part. So we've been unpacking and putting away for days now. Ugh. The house is still a wreck and I find myself wishing I were a witch in the world of Harry Potter. Then I could just wave my wand and all the stuff would go exactly where I want it without any effort. Oh well... back to reality and the mess... in a little bit. :-)

We also have a new addition to our little family-- a kitten. Her name is Hazel, and she's pretty much adorable. She is such a huge cuddle bug. She sometimes gets upset at us when we're not holding her, so she'll mew until we pick her up or just climb up our bodies to our arms. Haha. I'm also thinking she may be part parrot, because she enjoys perching on our shoulders too. She's a little under the weather at the moment. Not to worry though. We've been to the vet twice now. ("Yikes!" squeals the wallet!) She'll be fine in about a week says vet. Her nose is just all stopped up right now, so she can't smell where her food, water or litterbox are! We have to remind her a few times a day. lol

The city seems wonderful so far. Or maybe it's a town? I don't know. It's population is about half the size of our hometown, but it has just grown by two! According to the vet today by way of Greg, it was rated as the most economical city in the U.S. last year, meaning we'll be getting more bang for our buck on average. For example, I went and got my hair cut yesterday. Eleven bucks for a wash and cut. I haven't had a hair cut that cheap since I was a kid! That's a lot better than the nearly fifty bucks I was paying in Dallas. Given the Dallas place was kinda spa like, and this place was more barber shop than anything. But still, that's a considerable chunk of change. Maybe I'll actually be able to afford to get my hair cut every 4-6 weeks like I'm supposed to now!

Today's predicted high was 84... in January... I'm ok with this. I've worn shorts the past 2 days. Also, we have a palm tree in our front yard. A PALM TREE! We seem to have some pretty awesome neighbors too. According to them, we've found the medical 'hood. They are both dentists. They invited us to their beach house today, but we couldn't go because Hazel had to go to the vet, then the internet guy showed up and the landlord... BUT we're thinking we may hang with them tomorrow night at a painting class. This could get interesting, since the only B I ever made in high school was in art class. haha. Oh well, I'll just call it "modern art." That should cover just about any piece of junk I create. Obviously that philosophy didn't fly in high school art, but that will have to fly in this house! Also, we've joined the 21st century! We got real cable and a DVR. I've rarely had cable in my life and definitely never had a DVR. That's a cool gizmo! Still trying to figure it out. I may try to set it to record NCIS for me every week. Hehe

Hopefully get to start the new job on Monday. My temporary license hadn't shown up in the mail last I checked. Can't start without it. We will see. If the job is as awesome as the local digs, I think I'll be set! Now then, if Mr. Gregory could just find a job. Say a prayer for that one!

Well, I need to go put a few more things away before I hit the sack. Later y'all!

The Art of Being Still

Read this article on Zen Habits blog today. I can't currently see it as the website has taken an early hiatus in the SOPA/PIPA protest, so I'll give a summary and then address the practical "how to" aspect. Basically, it talks of the importance of taking a few moments to just sit still quietly everyday.

Did you do that today? How about yesterday? Plans for that tomorrow?

I would be willing to bet that most people don't have a habit of stilling themselves for a moment of nothingness. Go ahead. Try it.

First, you're probably thinking, "Where am I going to find a quiet place?!" Our world is noisy! There's always music or a tv on in the background or a kid crying or an e-mail or text message that just can't wait. The first step it being ok with walking away from all that for just a moment. Don't worry; it will still be there when you get back.

Now, once you're ok with that, where is this quiet space? My favorite quiet places are out in the middle of nowhere. For example, the back trails in my favorite park which few people travel... or some country roads. For many though, those types of spaces are not available due to time or environment, or perhaps you don't know any right off the top of your head. No matter. There is another place where just about anyone can be utterly alone for a few moments. How about the bathroom? That's where I get my daily quiet time. That's why I take so long to shower; I organize myself and think in there! Toilets work great too. If your bathroom can't be a safe haven... say your kids will just follow you in there, then go to a store around the corner and borrow their toilet. (After locating an appropriate sitter for the kiddo of course.)

Now that you've located your spot, close your eyes. Take a moment to just breathe. Slowly... in through the nose and out through your mouth. Several times...

Once you've slowed down your thought processes, try to eliminate thinking all together to meditate for a moment. This part is the hardest for busy minds. If it helps, picture a large, white, blank piece of copy paper floating down on top of your mind's eye until all you see is whiteness. Or perhaps try repeating a mantra-- a word or phrase that brings calmness to your mind. For many words like love or peace may work or a favorite quote or Bible verse. You may only be able to achieve thinking of nothing for a few moments at first, but with continued practice, you'll be able to sit for several minutes at a time content to think of nothing.

The above step is often skipped over, but I think it is very important once you start thinking again. Now come back to your mind. With a fresh mind, I often find I can see solutions to my problems more clearly and organize myself more precisely. That's what you can do now as you think. Sometimes I like to have pen and paper to write down what I think, sometimes it's nice to just brainstorm freely.

Once you're done thinking, or more than likely, your time has run out or in my case, the water is running cold, slowly begin to reintegrate yourself back into your day. Begin to think about those things that you walked away from and what requires your attention next. Now get going and act on those thoughts!

Update: Reading the Bible

This post is a follow up... like the "Update" episodes on the Maury show. (Yes, I enjoy watching humanity collapse occasionally just as much as the next person.) Remember how I posted about the Bible without chapters, verses and headings basically forever ago... update!

I know it's only been 6 days since the start of the year and thus, my new adventure reading the Bible through. I actually only started reading yesterday ... *sheepish grin* but I just had to tell you...

I am LOVING reading this version-- The Books of the Bible-- so much! I'm noticing things that I had never noticed before. For instance, while the animals did come "two by two" to the ark, not all the creatures only have two members aboard. Noah took SEVEN pairs of all clean animals and birds! I had never noticed that. I also find myself not flipping ahead so much thinking in my head, "When is this reading going to end?!" I think this is because it's reading more like a story than little blurbs.

Ok, I'm done, but really... do yourself a favor if you've been thinking about seriously reading a decent chunk of Bible. It is ten times more enjoyable with this version. It's only $8 plus shipping. Come on now... even I can afford that for my own spiritual growth!

Comfortable Work Footwear

Wanted to address an issue I've had before and seems to be a common theme among women in the workforce: work shoes.

Now, they can't be too manly... or too out there stylistically in most environments... but at the same time, so many are on their feet for hours, many women's shoes out there are just plain painful. Fear not! Beauty does not have to be pain!

The best shoes I've found for working long hours on your feet are light duty hiking shoes like these from Keen...

Or trail runners like these that I'm currently wearing from Brooks....

Now, I am by no means advertising on purpose for these particular shoes. (I've never actually worn this particular Keen pair.) However, having always had a job where I was on my feet at least 8 hours a day, my feet have been the happiest in these types of shoes. So if you're in the shoe market, if you can wear a tennis type shoe to work in, I'd ask my favorite shoe store personnel to show me lightweight hiking or trail running shoes.

If I were in a job where tennis type shoes were unacceptable, the Keen brand also offers other more "stylish" types of shoes. I have worked in these from Keen...

They were pretty comfy, but I will admit they didn't last as long as the tennis type and that I use the word stylish loosely here. They have others that are cuter too...

They also have more sandal and flip flop types for those that aren't required to wear closed toes. For example...

Or to be a little less brand specific, how about some good old Chacos...

I'm sure other brands that mostly do hiking shoes also have more street friendly shoes too, I just haven't ventured into them, because I'm quite happy with my current pair of Brooks and past multiple pairs of Keens.

No matter what shoe you pick, take care of your feet while you work. They're kinda connected to the rest of the body. Those sore feet will slowly creep up your body into knees, and hips and back. I love you all too much to want to see you on my treatment table.