What’s Next?

Why is it that when I’m reading a book I’m always concerned about how much progress I have made to the end?

Why am I always wanting the “next” thing to happen?

Why do I have a hard time sitting and resting during vacation.  Don’t get me wrong, sleeping is a cinch for me, but resting?  Relaxing?  Wide awake?  So hard.

Why do I wonder things like “where will I live next”?

Why do I find it so difficult to just enjoy a drama free season in life?

Questions.

I’m going to find the answers.  I truly believe this is an immature spot in my life.  An area where my character is lacking.

“Be still and Know that I am God”. 

This is a command I struggle with, unless there is drama.  I hate the moments my life is constantly swirling… but sometimes I seem to dislike more the moments where it is calm.  I just don’t know what to do with them.

I’m on vacation and I’m pressing in.  I’m trying to force relaxation with out sleeping.  I’m trying to not be bored with that concept.  I’m trying to use my time to just reflect on God and enjoy the drama-free season.

Anyone understand what I am talking about?  Anyone conquered this? 

I Gotta Ask… Everybodies Living for the Weekend?

Just out of curiosity,

1. Do you read blogs on the weekend?
2. Do you write blogs on the weekend?
3. Could you care less about blogs on the weekend?
4. Do you read MORE blogs on the weekend than during the week?

Oh yeah- I have to answer these too!

1. Yes and No. I read less than I do during the week, but really it depends on whether my husband is in town and what we have going on.

2. Sometimes- like right now at this Saturday evening post movie moment. Actually, I post most weekends. But if the post is really important to me, something I want to find my maximum readership on, I usually save it until Monday or Tuesday even if I have written it on the weekend. In fact, weekends can be a good time to plan the week, brainstorm, and/or future post.

3. I’m as total nerd. I always care about blogs. There aren’t many moments since 2004 that “I couldn’t care less about blogs”.

4. No I do not read more blogs on the weekend. If not for any other reason than the fact that the blogs I read tend to post less on the weekend (as a sum total).

On a side note: we rented the movie Music and Lyrics tonight. Cute. Not earth-shattering, but cute. And I could always use cute

I Gotta Ask… Where You Almost Went.

My friend (since middle school!), Anne over at Pieces of Me posted an interesting post on the careers we thought at one point of having- but chose another path. It had me thinking it would be fun to hear your not-chosen-for-one-reason-or-another paths as well!

I’ll start with some of mine!

First off, I started my college career off as a Chemistry major. I loved science but realized quickly it was a difficult path to take when you couldn’t thing of one related career you were interested in!

After that I was largely undeclared but moved into architecture- bad idea. Not my cup of tea to say the least. It was nearly on a whim that I joined it in the first place. Not long after, one of my professors steered me toward fashion. He noticed that the only time I seemed remotely interested was when the parallels between building design and fashion design were drawn. That is where I ended up.

God blessed me with a highly desired position with a reputable company in the industry while in college. (I had some good connections too.) I continued to work there after school and while I loved certain aspects, there were others that just didn’t seem to be the proper fit.

I ended up in Nashville.

I NEVER thought I would be in Nashville. All I could think of was country music and cowboys, and a cowgirl I was not! Fashion industry there? What in the world would that be? For the first 6 months I took a position as a wardrobe consultant at a southern “old money” boutique. CULTURE SHOCK! but that is another post all-together

Out of no-where an opportunity fell in my lap to design merchandise and apparel for bands; Christian bands for the most part. My mentor, Rick, was more than generous to share his trade secrets. I had more technical training and knew about parts of the industry that he did not. He had learned plenty through experience and connections he had made in his many years in the business. He shared his connections along with his experience, and sold me to bands he didn’t have the time to take on any longer. His next destination was the mission field and he desired to “pass the torch” in a sense. This was no doubt where the Lord had me at that time. For so many reasons- but again that would be another post!

Here I am, now in my greatest career choice, mothering. I love it. It wears me out at times, but I wouldn’t trade it for any of my great dreams.

Onto the other paths I could have chosen:

1. News Correspondent. Realistically- I wouldn’t have wanted to put the time focus and years into this position being that I knew I wanted to be a full time mom eventually. But I love and crave news. I love the personality that integrates with it. I love communication and have strong desires to shout information from the rooftops when I learn of it. I suppose that is what I have my blog for now

2. College Professor. I have even gone so far as writing a syllabus, course outline and submitting it to a design school. While they were interested in the idea, I have little to no experience. I never officially applied to anything but the idea of ethics based discussion classes intrigues me. I wanted to introduce the idea of a fashion ethics course. A discussion based “where are we going” of sorts. A way of getting into young minds of (mostly) women and causing them to thing about their boundaries before they enter the world the fashion industry and their standards get eaten alive. There are little boundaries in this career field. I feel a huge part in establishing these boundaries is actually thinking them through before being in a position to take action. I worked as a TA for several classes in College (I guess my prof’s thought me mature because I was not partying every night!). I loved working with the girls and challenging them.

3. Guidance Counselor. I have mentioned recently that I love hooking people up with jobs and careers. I love matching people with needs and vice-versa.

4. Lawyer I love healthy debate. I remember distinctly my father talking to me one night about my desires to be a lawyer in 6th grade. It was late and bed time and he ran fake scenarios by me that went something like this…
“what if you were working for a firm and you were asked to defend a horrible killer?“, I said “I wouldn’t do that.” “What if that meant losing your job?” he replied… I thought… This went on with other scenarios he knew I could not handle. And thus, I was argued out of a future in Law.

5. Statistics. I had never thought about this career until I had a statistics class in college and fully digested every minute. I loved every problem I had to solve and every discussion it created. I realized this was strange as most around me grumbled and complained. I thought seriously for a moment about switching majors. But switching in your 3rd year can mean a lot of extra time in college.

That’s it for now- Trust me, I have had many other passing ideas. I still do! But I’m so content and please with where God has placed my life. His infinite wisdom chose my path. These things are fun to dream about here and there, but the reality is much better.

Now your turn. Think about it. What have you thought of doing that you didn’t do? Are you glad you ended up where you are instead? Thanks Anne for the topic!

I Gotta Ask….8 Random Things

Mom Loves Being at Home tagged me to do an 8 random things meme. I like this kind of meme because they arent specific qu’s that I over-think And I do love reading these things so I suppose I should participate. Now… what to tell you…

1. I went to a private Christian school from 2nd grade- 12th grade.

2. I’m very watered down ethnically… but I’m Greek, Cherokee, French and a little Irish. The Greek part of my family is what I have been most exposed to… meeting cousins from Greece, Greek Food. Loud HUGE gatherings of family, and the occasional O-PA! My father was brought up in the Greek orthadox church. I feel a little sentamental toward American Indians and how we treated them. Sometimes it brings me to tears.

3. I was a late- bloomer

4. When people use tissues (kleenex), hold it, or play with it it gives me goose-bumps and hurts my ears.

5. I am awfully prone to cavities no matter how much I brush/floss.

6. I HATE hospitals.

7. I can not run because of my bad knees.

8. I once was a Chemistry major and was even offered several scholarships based on it. Still a career in Chemistry did not sound exciting to me.

9. I took a test at a job once and was labele a “color genius”… however lately that seems to have deterioted quite a bit. Probably due to tanning beds when I was younger- who knows.

10. I have double-jointed thumbs, and my elbows over-extend.

Oh wait- that was 10!

Okay now leave 8 in the comments! Play Please!

I Gotta Ask… (crowd participation encouraged). Part 3

Last week not as many people participated in my little I gotta ask game. Maybe it was the quesitons? At any rate, I’ll try it again this Monday

1. What is your main source of news? Internet? T.V.? Newspaper? Do you care?

I probably get my news 50% from t.v. and 50% from the internet. I care a lot. Sometimes maybe too much.

2. Do you listen to music? a certain kind? All time favorites?

Yes- though I once was really up on it and now, well… I don’t get out much I grew up with a ton of appreciation for the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson. I loved the Cure and Depeche mode but still was a fan of New Kids on the Block and Milli Vanilli (cut me some slack, I was 13). Then there was a femmes phase and then Elliot Smith. I went through a big billy holiday frank sinatra period… and now I like all sorts of things! From worship cd’s like Hungry or Matt Redman to The Fray and Camera Obscura. I think my taste is probably all over the place.

3. Do you have myspace or facebook?

Yes both. My personal myspace is private friends and family only. And my Facebook is of course private as well.

4. Is your interent dial up, cable, DSL? Wireless, Laptop, Desktop? Mac? PC?

Me- Cable, Wireless, Mac, Laptop.

5. Do you have an ipod? Other MP3 player.

Yes- I have a pink one that I got for a birthday from my husband a few years ago. And this year he gave me a pink shuffle for Vday. He has one of those Video ipods and a shuffle. We are pretty wired around here.

6. Are you addicted to the internet? How long are you on? What are you on for? work? social? research? news? all?

I hope I’m not, but close. Hence, the Fridays off. Luckily I’m pretty busy with the kids, playdates, and keeping house and life together so That keeps me from being a super addict. I would say I’m on 1.5-2 hours a day… but those are mostly nap time and night time. I am on for blogging, learning, and news.

That’s it for now, your turn. Please play Don’t be shy.

I Gotta Ask… (crowd participation encouraged). Part 2

The last ‘I Gotta Ask’ was so fun I thought we could play another crowd participation game.

1. How many Blogs are on your RSS feed reader (if you don’t know what I’m talking about your answer is 0)?

For me that answer is- 87…. although, many are inactive and probably should be taken off.

2. How many Posts does your RSS feed say remain un-read right now?

Me- 32, and I have to leave for an appointment so I’m sure I will have more than I could possibly get throught today!

3. Do you remember the first blog you ever read?

Mine was my brotherss and it was called Messy Church on blogspot. Now he has his on domain that he forwards to Wordpress.

4. What is your favorite type of blog to read?

This is a hard one for me…
I love so many different kinds. But I have to say that the ones that include personality into the content draw me in the most. Whether it is Political, Mommy, or Artistic… The uniqueness is what keeps me. I know that doesn’t really answer the question and being that I asked it I should. So in that case probably mommy/life blogs. But for the most part is a toss of for me.

Your TURN!

I gotta ask… (crowd participation encouraged)

Okay, I haven’t done this one in awhile. BUT since I have many new blog friends since I last did, I thought I would do it again. Of course you can blurk (lurking on someones blog incognito), but I would prefer you play my little game.

Here’s the deal.
I want to know.

1. Do you blog, or just read blogs?
2. Where do you blog?
3. When did you start blogging?
4. And last, Why did you start blogging?
edit: 5. How did you find Mommyzabs?
We’ll start with me.

1. Obviously, I blog. And lately quite obsessively.

2. mommyzabs.wordpress.com

3. I wrote my first blog August 18th, 2004

4. I had been reading blogs for about a year and thought is somewhat strange at first. However, the more you expose yourself to something, the less strange it seems! I started mainly because I was moving out of state, had just had a baby, and quite my career. Less than a year before that I had gotton married! It seemed with all the change that blogging was a good format to talk about it, and stay in touch with people I cared about. Now there are so many reasons I blog. I just love it. I’m hooked. I have learned so much, met so many great people, and kept in touch with old friends!

YOUR TURN!