Focus, Dear, Focus

Since signing on as a consultant, my life has been about focus. I suppose that is good in some ways. I haven't had time to do much else besides concentrate on getting my business up and running. There is a lot to learn. I've not had a business before, and I am not one that can sail through life without finding out about details. I imagine at some point my tax preparer and perhaps my Uncle Sam might be interested in details. That gives me incentive too.

My motto seems to be Focus, Dear! Focus is good. Really.

In all this focusing on business, I need to mention the fun I'm having getting others revved up about getting their photos into albums. It's something almost everyone really wants to do. I think it may be as big as dieting. Everyone needs it. At least everyone says they need it. Really.

So, I'm doing that establishing a customer base thing and letting my friends know what I'm doing. If people are going to work on albums, they have to have albums. That is where we are at the moment. I'm also busy planning some fun get-togethers in my head so we can all work on our albums. That is what this is really about, after all.

Since becoming a consultant, I do have some restrictions about what I can and can't put on my blog. That has left me speechless... or blogless. Since what I'm doing is working on this business, and I can't advertise it on my blog, I'm just quiet.

I did escape to I-Needa's house for a couple of days this past week. My reasons for making the trip were rather weak. One: I wanted a hair cut. Two: Gigi would have to be alone late one night as I-Needa had a late night at her school. I didn't really have to go. Someone closer could cut my hair, and a neighbor could have let Gigi out to piddle. However, I found the drive down the Interstate relaxing and it gave me a chance to see something besides my computer and my afore mentioned business stuff. It was all good.

The guilt of knowing that my ten or so faithful readers may have been here and once again found nothing new has driven me to the computer to post something... anything. I hope you will know that I'm still around and will try to be back soon with something of value.

The Perfect Smile

I've been wandering through a forest of very tall trees, trying to see the forest. I keep bumping into things I don't understand and having to try to sit down and rest awhile.

It has been busy for me since I embarked on my new business adventure. I'm suppose to be off and working at a furious pace. Maybe that isn't really accurate, but I do at times feel that way. I'd just like to sit down awhile and not think about it.

Getting started on a business is a tad time consuming. There are things to learn, and it takes a bit of time to learn and get things organized. It will happen.

Since you have come here to see if I'm still alive, I'll relate the two things that struck me as wildly humorous this week. Thank goodness for those moments that just make you smile.

The first was a TV spot about the ladies who have the honor of carrying in the medals at the Olympic Games. The commentator was talking about the honor of it and how these girls are chosen. They had to be a certain height, a certain weight within a few pounds, and be pleasant to look at. (No ugly ones.) They showed pictures of the girls practicing walking... all together. They turned just so, smiled just so... etc.

Then the commentator said that showing six to eight teeth was considered the perfect smile. That did it. I immediately hopped up and got a mirror to see what a perfect smile looks like. Go ahead... go get a mirror and just try to smile with only six to eight teeth showing. It is going to take practice. Now I know why I don't like my pictures. My smile is far from perfect. I've laughed over that one off and on all week.

Item two: I was in a parking lot yesterday visiting with a friend. We'd been in a meeting and, having finished, were on our way to our cars. I heard the electronic sound of a vehicle behind me being unlocked. I turned around and saw that a man in a suit with his briefcase was getting into the convertible behind me. Oh, yes... the top was down. I HAD to smile. I also couldn't resist the comment that he had just unlocked his car that had the top down. 'Well,' he said, ' it really makes a loud commotion if someone would try to get in the doors or if they got inside and started messing with anything.' I just stood there grinning at him through his explanation. I did apologize and explain that I was sure his reasoning was perfectly logical, but that it just tickled me to see a convertible with its top down locked. He admitted that he had felt rather silly at times about that as well.

Actually, I was having a hard time not ragging on this poor guy any more. Actually, I will admit to looking up at the dark clouds that were forming over us promising the threat of water. I didn't mention that fact to him. He didn't put the top up either. I'm afraid his suit and briefcase might be soaked at some point, but I just didn't dare mention that. I did roll my head back and point heavenward. He just smiled at me and drove off.

I'm glad I have a car with a top. I do have a sun roof, so can live a little at times. I also will work on my perfect smile. You never know when that might come in handy.

Next time you wander in front of a mirror, please check out that smile business. It is good for a few laughs... with only six to eight teeth showing.

Whoohoo!

EXCITEMENT!
The HAPPY DANCE!

I had happy news this morning! I hope you remember Caroll, my consultant that I almost startled to death with news that I wanted to be a consultant too. Well..... I found out this morning that she won..Won... WON... a $500 gift card from Home Depot in Ree's Pioneer Woman give away. Now, that is the way to start the day!

I think there were close to 10,000 entries, and Caroll won one of the three prizes offered! Wow! Happy Dance!!! I don't think I could be happier if I had won it!

I think the best thing is that Caroll is such a nice person and always helpful to others. Also, she really has a use for this extra cash. I would have enjoyed having it too, and I did enter, but she has more of a legitimate and direct use for it. It will be a nice blessing for her and her family. I really think it is a God thing. I think He was just ready to bless her. I believe that. I really do.

I-Needa checked on the Pioneer Woman site this morning to see who won. Of course, I-Needa entered, and so had I. She was excited when she saw the name Caroll, and not everyone spells Caroll with the second L. She immediately called Caroll and asked her about it. She knew Caroll was going to be busy today and probably hadn't checked the site yet. I-Needa couldn't stand going off to work and not knowing if her friend was the winner. Well.... they did a little happy dance together, and Caroll found out she was the winner!

I do believe I'm revved up for the day. Things are just a little brighter knowing that someone else has had a really happy morning. It looks pretty gray outside at the moment in terms of cloud cover, but there is sunshine above, and that is enough.

Mind Stretching and Bending

I realize that I haven't posted anything for a few days. My mind has been working overtime on my new adventure. I've been exercising my thinking cells to the point of bruising them. I've stretched them and bent them in new directions. I thought for awhile that I might never be able to think coherently again.

It reminds me of the time I joined up at our local fitness center. I decided I wanted to learn to work with the exercise ball. I remember doing this squat thing against the wall on that ball, and I remember clearly the trainer mentioning something about the possibility that I would be really sore. Then he gave me some tips for easing any discomfort. I thought the man was crazy. I'd done eight, only eight, of those squats with the exercise ball. Why on earth would I ache.

Well.... let me tell you in no certain terms that the next day brought pain... PAIN. I thought I had perhaps damaged myself beyond any possible salvage. I must have ripped something or done something else to my otherwise happy body.

At that point I thought I'd never be able to walk again, much less head to the center and actually do anything. I skipped a day and worked with rubbing a bit of medicine on my calves and popping a few pain relieving pills.

When I returned and explained that I had killed myself with the eight squats, the trainer again explained why I had hurt and said that was good. 'Good', I said. 'Hum... easy for you to say!'

I haven't had anyone talk to me about possibly hurting my brain. I don't know who I would ask about something like that. Really.

I just know that my poor brain began to shut down with too much information. I almost began to understand how some computers (not my Apple) can get sensory overload and just close everything. I really did.

I am better today. I've quit waking up in the night with questions that demand I get up immediately to find the answer. That is really annoying. Seriously.... I would roll over and do that just barely becoming aware thing. Then I would start thinking... and thinking... with more thinking. At that point, I always figure that I might as well get up and deal with my thoughts if there is any remote possibility of getting one more wink of sleep.

I've made another 'to do' list. It looks a little like Santa's list in terms of length. I'll at least be able to check things off and trick myself into thinking I've accomplished something.

I remember when the trainer made me go do some stretching and bending exercise to help me with my soreness. I guess I'm going to have to apply that to my poor brain and at least do a little mind stretching and bending today. It will help, I'm sure. Tah Dah

Busy Person

After becoming a Creative Memories Consultant, I've been flung into organizing, planning, and learning. I do believe I've become a busy person. Actually, I think I was a busy person before, but now I'm a busy busy person.

I seem to have flung myself with wild abandon into the world of scrapbooking, etc. One of my relatives said that I always seem to give 200 percent to any project I tackle. I guess that will be a good thing.

The strange thing is that I didn't really mean to do this. I told you about Caroll's near death experience as I asked her if she wanted to take me on as a consultant. I'm telling you honestly that I NEVER thought I'd be out and about selling and promoting a product. For me, it wasn't happening.... ever... ever...ever. I don't even like to go to 'parties'. Oh, I've gone, but there has always been a part of me that screams 'NO' when it is time. Now, I'm on the other side of the coin. How strange!

Actually, I believe in our product. I really didn't do this to have a business or to sell something. That really really wasn't why I decided to do the wild abandon fling. You see, I have this vision of getting lots of people together to work and socialize while doing something constructive, fun, and meaningful. Perhaps it is a form of prairie style quilting bees... sitting around sewing and talking and sharing. Yes, that is my vision. I want to see lots of people in our small town gathered happily together working on stories of their families.

I realized that the only way I could try to encourage this kind of activity was to provide resources myself. That's when I started thinking about needing to become a consultant so that I'd be able to provide the resources. That's when I called and sent poor Caroll into a state of utter confusion and disbelief. (That's yesterday's story.)

The whole idea that I've really committed myself to this venture has almost settled into my being. I rather like the idea. I think it is going to be good for me. I'll have to leave my computer chair and go out into the world. I'll have an opportunity to meet new people and establish some stronger bonds with people I already know. I like that.

Honestly, I think it is a fine thing to try something different once in awhile. I'm afraid we all get too into our comfort zones. We need to move out of the box once in awhile and stretch ourselves a bit. It is good for us. It keeps us young. I believe that. I really do.

The idea of trying something new reminds me of one of I-Needa's projects. She decided to try one new thing a day. It could be a tiny little thing, but just had to be something that she had never done before. I'm not sure she has mentioned anything about that lately. She is learning to do decorative painting, so that should definitely count.

Perhaps I should just leave one line with a challenge to all have ventured here to see what I've written. I do appreciate your coming. I really do... sincerely. So... go do one thing today that you have never done before. Make it something nice, of course.

Decision Made

I Did It! I am now officially a
Creative Memories consultant!
(It's so good to be official)

I went to the cabinet and brought forth my CM coffee mug. It was a gift from Daughter I-Needa a few years ago when she was a consultant. Now it has even more meaning, and I intend to start my morning with a nice cup of eye opening java from my CM mug.


I will confess that this decision wasn't completely easy. I went from thinking I wanted to do this to wondering what on earth I was thinking.

I've been using CM products, and loving them, for years. I was first introduced to them in I-Needa's home at a crop. (That's a fancy word for working on getting those photos into albums.) I was so impressed with the consultant, Caroll. She has been my consultant for years.

Caroll is really sweet and has done so many things to be of help to her customers. She is downright dedicated to serving others with her gift. I will say that she has mentioned on a number of occasions that I might want to consider becoming a CM consultant. I always brushed that thought right away. None of that for me, thank you. I just couldn't picture myself doing it. Really.

One thing I've learned in life, and it should be taken seriously: NEVER say that you will NEVER do something. That is a sure sign that will MOST CERTAINLY do it. Period.

After a bit of prayer and thinking and figuring, I finally called Caroll on the phone. I had to giggle occasionally at the thought of what I was about to do to her. She had tried so often, and I had refused so often, that I knew I was about to give her a shock.

I sent her a little e-mail saying that I had a CM question and would like to call and talk with her about it. Later I gave her a call, and the conversation went something like this:
Caroll 'What would you like to ask me about?'

Sly Me 'I was just wondering if you are up to taking me on as a consultant.'

Caroll (Actually no sound was coming from her end of the phone. There was just silence) Finally.... 'Sorry, I'm on the floor.'

Sly Me 'Oh, I'm sorry!'

Caroll 'Oh, you are just kidding. You are kidding..... aren't you? Are you kidding?'

Sly Me 'I'm not kidding.' (Said very softly and evenly as I tried to picture her face.)

Caroll (Another one of those long silent periods as she was trying to regroup.)
'Oh, you really are kidding.... aren't you?'

For some reason, we were having difficulty moving our conversation beyond this point, but that was fine with me. I was savoring the moment, so to speak.

Sly Me 'I'm really NOT kidding. I'm serious. I've made a decision and I want to be a CM consultant.'

Caroll 'Wow! That is great!' (At this point, excitement began building in her voice and she began at last to be convinced that I was sincere. I must add that I'm really not the kind of person that is never to be believed.... She just couldn't believe that all her years of hard work had finally paid off, and it was needing a bit of time to settle in her head.)

I'm not sure how long after our conversation that she may have arrived at the conclusion that after ALL this time, I'd finally changed my tune and seen the light. I have to tell you, I did get many a chuckle out of giving Caroll a good shock. Of course, it was a GOOD shock.

Saying 'I do' to the company has started me down a new path into a new adventure. I think it is going to be something fun to do, and I'm looking forward to getting together with friends and helping them do what I've learned to enjoy myself.

Who knows, I may make it my personal mission to ferret out all drawers containing piles of pictures within our Small City. I shall offer organizational rescue to my dear friends. They will be happy I did, and someday they too may see the light. (Now I'm getting a little carried away, so think it would be a good time to end.) Tah Dah

Reaching A Decision

I may have posted these pictures before, but you need to see them again, because they are a part of my decision making process.

Maybe it is the color, cut, and paste thing in me that is a left over from years teaching in an elementary school. Kids always liked art. I'm thinking the kid in me likes it as well.

Daughter I-Needa got me headed to organizing my photos and putting them into photo safe albums a few years ago. She became a Creative Memories Consultant. Her own full time duties as a teacher left her with very little free time, so she decided that she would have to give up her ideas of being a consultant.

She did manage to steer her mother (Me) on the path of organizing and preserving those precious picture treasurers. My treasurers were thrown into a drawer without as much as a date on them. Pitiful, really. Worse than pitiful. They were too valuable to throw away, but how do you really enjoy something that is tossed into a drawer. Once in awhile I'd dig the drawer out, put it on the floor, and sit there sifting through the pictures thinking that I really should organize them.

One day I decided that enough was enough. I pulled the drawer out and began putting pictures into piles according to topic. I separated I-Needa's pictures from Right Back's pictures. Then I needed to sort those two piles into ages from youngest to oldest. I managed to do that and put them into an album. Of course, I managed to write some cute things under the pictures and turn it into a lovely story of each of the kids as they grew into adults.

Since retiring from teaching, I've managed to go on three lovely trips, and each time I've put the pictures into a Creative Memories album and journaled so that I'd be able to relive and enjoy those trips for years to come.

The top picture is the table in my dining room when friend Mary wanted me to help her put together an album of her mother's 90th birthday party. This was her first album, and she was certain she just couldn't do it. I invited her over with the promise of helping her. I assisted a little at first, but she soon caught on and found her own style. She went after it and completed the album herself. She had a wonderful time.

Mary gave the album to her mother and found it hard to even express how much it meant to her mother.

This next picture is one of my friend P.R. when she came to make an album of her dad.
She brought a TON of pictures and just headed for my living room floor to start putting things into piles. She stayed three days and finished the album. We also found some time to play and look around town at the quaint shops.

Actually, P.R. is coming to my house again soon as has found additional pictures to add to her album. She is coming here as it is a good excuse to visit and just have a spot to work. Perhaps I should have looked at the photos I took the last time she was here. Perhaps I should call her and tell her that I'm busy. Just kidding, P.R.!

I've talked to many people who are in the same place I was before I decided to do something about saving all those photos so they could be enjoyed and passed on. They all say the same thing: 'I really need to do something about that!'

So.... where do you suppose I'm going with all this? I've been seriously thinking about becoming a consultant. It is something I never thought I'd do, but here I am almost ready to do it. My whole house could look like it does in the photos above. Lovely, really.

A Day Without a Phone

I visited with I-Needa this morning, then hung up and started a bit of work around the house. Oops... I suppose I really shouldn't say that as it isn't entirely true. I did visit with I-Needa, but my plans for work around the house were tentative at best.

As I walked by my computer desk, I noticed an orange light steadily lit on my wireless gateway. That meant I had no Internet. Scenes of dealing with the help line flashed before my eyes. If you've ever called for tech support, you know the scenes that flashed before my eyes. It wasn't pretty at all. I had a horrid feeling that I was going to have to talk with Ameddedbibshed in Asmmabad. I just knew it!

At first I tried to ignore it. I figured it would come around and do the right thing soon. I waited, but that orange light refused to turn green. I did a few diagnostic things from my computer, but that wasn't helping either.

Finally, with shoulders slumped and knowing that I would be dealing with endless button punching and possible disconnects, I headed for the land line to call the phone company. I considered stopping for a headache remedy just in case. Perhaps I should just pick up a glass and pour a bit of wine. I decided to give I-Needa a call so she could be supportive in my hour of need. Then I would call the phone company.

However, when I picked up the phone and tried to call I-Needa, I heard a busy signal in the background. Well! That was strange. I decided to try another long distance number... same thing. I ran around the house making sure that all the phones were securely seated on the base. No problem. Then I called Mother's number here in town, and she answered without a problem.

Since the phone wasn't able to dial a long distance number, I couldn't call the phone company on my land line. I tried my cell phone. That wasn't good either. Seriously, even the cell phone wasn't working as it should.

I decided to go to Grace's house and call the phone company from there. I picked up her phone to dial repair at the phone company, and her line had that same busy signal thing going. I think I was rather relieved as now knew it was not just my phone line. Perhaps I wasn't going to have to talk with Ameddedbibshed in Asmmabad. That would be a blessing.

Whatever was going on today with the phone service, it seems to have been an issue throughout the entire city. No phone, no Internet. Stores couldn't process credit card transactions. I'm sure that made for a festive day at the stores. Even the cell phones seemed to be dropping calls. Truly, it was a weird day. I MISSED my phone and Internet service. I really did. I thought about how dependent we are on our phone system.

Thankfully, our phone service is back... obviously... I'm writing this blog. I have to admit that I felt a lilt to my spirit when the orange light turned green. I was back in business.

I have one concern. You see.... right before the phones in the entire town died, I'd decided to call long distance to my Creative Memories consultant to discuss with her a wild thought I've had. Hum...... Surely I didn't cause the outage!

Country Lunch

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I'm SO thankful to live in a small community and be able to drive for five minutes or less and be in the country. It's lovely. Really.

Today I was blessed to have lunch in the country with friends. A group of us were meeting there. We were to bring a covered dish.

Life has been a little crazy lately with having Mother in the hospital over the weekend. I've been running around trying to get life in order, and I will have to confess that I didn't remember
this covered dish thing until I was about to climbinto my bed last night. It was an OH NO! moment.

Thankfully, we have a deli in town. I had a zillion (okay, I exaggerate perhaps) errands to run this morning, so decided to forgive myself for my culinary neglect. I headed for the deli to purchase a 'covered dish' for the event. I knew there would be wonderful dishes brought to the event, and there I would be with my deli delight, but that was just going to have to be acceptable. I decided not to guilt myself for the remainder of my life with such a trivial thing.


Although the weather was hot, there is a wonderful mister on the patio outside, so I sat outside with others and enjoyed the country scenery.

I kept looking for animals as our hostess is quite the lover of animals. I wasn't disappointed when one of her little critters entered. Boy and this sweet little donkey soon met, and I managed to take a few photos, and pet the animal a bit myself.



I'd almost put my camera away when along came this darling little pony.

I have to say that lunch was such fun today. It is so relaxing to get away and do something different. I love traveling out to my friend's home and always enjoy seeing what critter comes around the corner. Actually, there are llamas, but I didn't see any today.

Just Doings

I haven't posted for a couple of days. I realize this is a grave sin in the blog world, but I've been busy. Sometimes that happens.

I did have some fun last week getting together with friends in Nearby City. I wondered at the reason for waiting until the hottest month we have to be sociable, but decided I'd live getting out and going somewhere.

One friend asked several of us to her home to enjoy dinner and a swim in the pool. It was lovely to just get together and visit, and the swim was really nice as well.

I have to admit that I bought a suit a couple of years ago to take on a trip. I took it, but just never got around to putting it on. I've had that suit tucked away in the drawer, and it was high time it was out and used for its intended purpose. As I rinsed it out and hung it up to dry, I rather wished that it might see further service in the future.

Two nights later I headed back to Nearby City to visit another friend. She decided to have an early evening ice cream party. We were treated to seeing her new home and having a nice catch up visit with several friends. I guess I haven't lived recently, but it was a wonderful treat to eat home made banana ice-cream and cake. I had two bowls. Yum.

Yesterday's doings were not as much fun as started the morning with Mother thinking she was having a heart attack. She called just as I put one foot out of bed. That just isn't something one wants to hear at any time. Hearing it before my eye opening coffee was a jolt. I threw on some clothes, hurried over to her house, and did end up calling the ambulance. Thank goodness we still have our hospital in this small community. It has often been a struggle to keep it, but I think any struggle is worth it. I really wouldn't want to live in a town with no hospital. However, that is a conversation for another time. Mother is much better and may even be released today.

I'm up and really need to get on the day. I have a list of things to do, and all of it must be done in the next four hours. I think that means I should exit the blog and begin that list before it is too late.