You know that old FDR quote, "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself?" Yeah, I think ol'Franklin took that from his wife, Eleanor. I'm reading My Year with Eleanor: A Memoir currently. While it is Noelle Hancock's memoir and journey with fear Eleanor's plight with fear is much highlighted too. I sat up at 3 a.m., unable to sleep, reading this book last night and thinking about how fear really is such a demotivator. Fear stops me from doing even the most minute things. Like take all three kids to the library for story time. Yes, really. When Hancock pushes herself to do things, small and large, to beat her battle with fear, it resonates with something I have been attempting all summer long. My fear of working less. To me, my job is who I am, it is how I define myself. If I am not hacking … [Read more...]
Vicariously Through Me
A few weeks ago I posted about my lack of cojones when it comes to getting my picture taken with a certain Mr. Rollins. Henry Rollins. I promised all my 30 or so readers that I would work up the nerve this time and do it. I would wait with all the other starstruck groupies and get my five second photo op.Did it happen? Why of course. I would not let my 20 (including my Mom) loyal readers down. What couldn't have been better was a large part of Hank's set was how awestruck and dumb he gets when he's around certain people he admires. He gets all nerdy and "remember when" on them and basically can't speak. So we just let ourselves get pelted by peanuts and 11 years later still remember it fondly. I laughed pretty hard at this point since I knew I may get my photo but I was going to clam … [Read more...]
Just Like Dooce! Only in the not so fun ‘Ed Revisited’ Way
Some of you may recall my ramblings a few weeks ago about a suspicious mole. I had it removed last week. A simple little ten minute procedure where I was in awe of the sickening yet fascinating ways in which my skin could be numbed, burned, cut, and pulled all in such a short span of time. Fun, yet sick, in a fun yet sick kind of way. So surprisingly quick that I took advantage of the sitter and shopped a bit and then headed home. Ha! Fools who joyously shop and use up free baby sitter time unwisely pay in the end. Or at least that is what my addled, tired, and ever circling brain spent much of the night thinking about. That and having my chest cracked open. Basically my doctor called yesterday. A kind little man who is prone to humming as he heats up lasers and threads needles. Not in a … [Read more...]
Fear
Franklin Roosevelt said it best, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." I hate using a quote like that but it's true. It's what keeps me from doing things all the time.The subject of fear has been on my mind a lot these days. It's pretty damn scary and daunting to start a new career, being so green and all, and to just chuck my old life. I had three months of build up and doing preventative things to make sure we would be ok once I left my job, but the fear was still there. All the what if's. They consumed me. Sometimes, I admit, they do still keep me up at night. Then, this morning a friend wrote to me about all the things she fears. Losing loved ones, old age, illness, financial crises and fear of getting fat. I have to say these are the basics. We all fear these things … [Read more...]