Strickly Southern

An Idea In Your Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 19:51:00 +0000

#1 either all of the women my mother knows have stopped having babies or she's stopped telling me about them. can't decide if this is good or not. i'm grateful that i don't have to even marginally act like i want to hear about it or she's finally understanding what everything has meant to me.

#2 my little cousin is pregnant

#3 my boss is pregnant

stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:29:00 +0000

#1

just because i'm silent doesn't mean that i'm agreeing with you.

it probably just means that i'm trying to process how you ended up where you are because...

why do people make everything more complicated than it needs to be?

of course, then i start thinking that maybe it's me with the problem - i'm not making it complicated enough and i spend a week thinking about it.

#2

are people so busy/self important/impatient/whatever that's it's ok to place their/others lives in danger? lately i've noticed cars swerving into the turn lane at the last minute, after the light turns red, or pulling into the flow of traffic to be able to turn. just waiting on those wrecks to happen.

#3

i'm totally disengaged from MTC these days and have become, i fear, like others that i've complained about in the past: "if you don't want to do anything, why are you still here?" should i follow through with my own thoughts and step down? or should i have a thoughtful and truthful conversation with all/select board members about my worries and slowly step back? but that would be admitting that i'm done and over it.

#4

though i've never been an active blogger, i still follow and read about blogging, what's new, old, coming, when to revamp, etc. i was reading the other day and what/wherever it was, simply asked: "are you blogging for yourself or your readers?"

at first you think it's a duh question - you blog for yourself. but then you realize that you (ok, me) have spent a huge amount of time reading and researching other blogs to see how you can make your page look better, which new apps and plug ins are available, how to include more pictures, possible topics to write about, setting a schedule to post.

lately, i've done some quick posts, from my phone or ipad. they've been just quick thoughts and i feel much better after i've gotten them out of my head. it's allowed me to move on and think about other things. so i'm going to actively blog for myself, not for others, when and how i want, with no preconceived goals and/or thoughts about any of it. it's my way to vent about all aspects of my life.

and i might even make it public again. but, since i've taken it off line, i feel so much less pressure to post stuff. i'm not in a tissy about needing to post and only do it when i need/want to. i'm blogging for myself.

#5

why don't people read their emails all the way to the end or the directions, in order to follow them? it might save everyone some time.

#6

i've pasted silk sari fabric to my fireplace surround using starch. can't decide if i like it (probably not) so i'm not sure how long it'll stay up. i think i really want to paint it, but that will cost money. the fabric didn't cost me anything since i already had it and i made the starch myself.

when i got home last night, i finally took down my kitchen florescent light that i've always hated. i have nothing to replace it with of course, but it was finally time for it to go.

#7

after watching that organization show earlier in the month, i've purchased notebooks (birthday gift card usage!) with different styles, to use for my various projects. each project gets it's own notebook. i haven't used them yet - one step at a time - but it's coming.

#8

turns out my birthday was already not listed on FB, so it was a lovely day and i didn't think about it too much. perfect.

#9

i read this morning that "creating opportunity for all is a shared responsibility" (by sheila wellington) shared by the frances hesselbein leadership institute. i can't get it out of my thoughts.

it kind of stopped my brain for a minute. my first thought, of course (since it's been a constant internal dialog for months now), that this applied to my board, that it's not just my responsibility to make sure people are engaged, active and producing. and how could i make everyone else embrace this?!

but it goes further than that. actually, where does it end? does it end?

being aware of the needs of all others, no matter who they are or what they need, and then acting to meet those needs.

that's very overwhelming. the scope of it is huge. a first step could be learning the stories of others. everyone has one, but we often are so worried about our own story, that we forget that there are other stories.

but image a world where this happened - a population that didn't see a black kid on a bike, "lurking" around an empty house and immediately think that he might break in (happened in my neighborhood last night) but to go over, engage him in conversation, learn his story and ask him if he and his family were looking for a place to stay.

refocusing our focus, not back onto ourselves, but on others around us.

the population of my town is 116,084
the population of my state is 9.92 million
the population of my country is 316,747,173
the population of my world is 7,113,398,850

what type of change could happen if we all took on this responsibility?

#10

kidding. i think i'm done. i've cooked through. a lot to think about here.

Mama

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 23:16:00 +0000

For a mother who couldn't wait to talk and tell when I started my period - the last thing a girl wants - my mother has been completely closed mouth about my TTC. Even when my aunt says that they shouldn't expect babies from me anymore, she doesn't say anything. I wish she would.

FB birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Sat, 14 Sep 2013 10:24:00 +0000

I can't decide if I want to take my birthday off of Facebook.

Why would I? To confirm that most of my world is completely unaware of me, unless I'm right in front of them. And sometimes even then. It's surprisingly easy to not be noticeable in a crowd.

Why wouldn't I? Well, we all need validation. What's the whole point for social media right?

Which is better? Which is worse? Does it really matter?

39

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 12:11:00 +0000

I've spent the month or so before my 39th birthday eating pop tarts (that my mother bought) and rice.

I'm a visual learner

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 02:06:00 +0000

I'm watching an organization show from 2004. (What were we thinking with those hair styles and the huge chunky heeled shoes?) I've finally learned my organizational style, which was a very duh moment for me. I'm a visual learner, so I have to see things, which results in piles of things. Of course, I know what's in each pile and know where to find everything.

Also learned that I have very bad storage. No duh. I should be recording it for my mother as proof that I'm not messy, the host lady said so (because you always trust what you've seen on tv), I just have to see it. Out of sight, out of mind doesn't fit my style. It will just result in more stuff.

Organization for visual learners:
Color coding baskets with ugly plastic flowers
No closet doors
Use a folly filing system with color coded files

Hmmm.

I would love to visit this lady's home now, over 10 years later to see if she's still messy or half way "organized".

Speaking

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 19:01:00 +0000

I've often thought about conducting an experiment to see how long I can go without actually speaking to someone. To not go out of my way to not speak to anyone, but just to go about my day as usual.

Dreaming

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:39:00 +0000

In what was probably the last few seconds of my sleep this morning, I had a terrible dream that I had an abortion and throughout the experience and afterwards, I could tell that I was really experiencing the emotions it would bring. After the abortion, I got into the car to drive wherever I was going, but couldn't drive forward, only backwards, couldn't really see much as it was night and couldn't drive in a straight line. So I kept running into cars and curbs with shrubry and trees, but nothing was harmed. But it was in one of those nicer parking lots with natural growth and low lights.

Once I got to work, I looked up the meanings of these dream 'topics'. According to dreammoods.com:

"To dream that you have an abortion suggests that you are hindering and blocking your own growth. You may be hesitant in pursuing a new direction in your life due to fear, pressure, personal conflict or moral obligation. The dream may also be a reflection of your own real-life abortion and thus serves as a way of healing from the trauma and working towards self-acceptance. Alternatively, this dream may also be a message for you to take care and look after your health."

"To dream that you are driving a car in reverse suggests that you are experiencing major setbacks in your goals."

"...to dream that you are driving at night suggests that you are unsure of where you are headed in life. You are experiencing obstacles toward your goals. Perhaps you do not want to see what is ahead for you or you are afraid to confront certain issues. You may be feeling apprehensive about the future. If your view is blocked or obstructed while you are driving, then it symbolizes your lacking awareness of something in your life. You are overlooking certain aspects in your life."

Since I haven't had an abortion that I'm aware of, I guess I need to figure out what the F is going on. In what ways am I "hindering and blocking" my growth? What are my goals in which I am "experiencing major setbacks"? Well, actually I know that one - baby. But there are reasons for that (see below). I've always been unsure of where I'm headed in life. I've never had an answer to the "Where do you see yourself in 5 years" question. So why is it such a thing now that I'm dreaming about driving backwards at night and having an abortion?!

It's interesting that it says that "you have to take care and look after your health." I have gained a little weight recently, I feel like the "Thing" (a nerve schwannoma that's on the inside of the left side of my pelvic bone, right in the middle of everything (bowel, etc.) has grown a bit (if it grows too much, it will have to be removed but that might cause a lot of different problems - use your imagination) and my vitamin D continues to drop (8/21/12 @ 22.4, 11/6/12 @ 22.5, 1/21/13 @ 22.5, 3/20/13 @ 14). I've read that a low vitamin D level (which also means a low calcium level) hinders getting pregnant, so I see no reason to try when my level remains so very low. Weight and vitamin D levels are connected - higher levels on one equals lower levels on another. However, I have a friend who has the same levels as me and she is in no way "weighty." I'm now on my 4th (?) round of 50,000 IU/week.

WHAT AM I NOT SEEING???!!!?? WHAT AM I NOT AWARE OF??!?!?!?!?!!

I've always said "You don't know what you don't know." But if you don't know, how do you find out? Can someone tell me?

Get Over Myself

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:54:00 +0000

I was feeling REALLY down in the dumps yesterday afternoon. I mean in the way in which you wonder why you do what you do and what are you really getting out of it anyway and you're only visible when people need something from you and at other times you don't exist and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah...

On the way home, I listened to BBC radio and realized that I, in no way, had a hard life in comparison to lives elsewhere and basically told myself to get over myself. Who cares? What you get out of an effort is the satisfaction of a job well done and accomplishment and no opinion is more important that the one you have of yourself.

So I got Chipotle, went home, did a load of laundry, had a drink and went to bed.

Southern Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:04:00 +0000

Weekend Wecap

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:17:00 +0000

If you've noticed that I haven't done a weekend wecap in a while, well...it's because I haven't been doing too much and even what I've been doing, really hasn't been all that interesting. The last wecap that I did was a month ago - January 14th.

Maybe I should just do them once a month?! That way it I will (maybe) seem more interesting and full of activity? Hmm. Anyways...to sum up the last month of weekends:

Lounging, comfy pants, TV, Netflix, dogs, reading, volunteering, funerals, hair color & cut, meeting prep, meal prep for sick folks and pet sitting.

Happy National Banana Bread Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 09:30:00 +0000

Via

FYI - My grandmothers banana bread recipe is the only food that ever got me a marriage proposal and if I was any kind of prepared or with it, I'd share the recipe here.

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Love a Little Sandwich

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:56:00 +0000

Behold... a month of sandwiches... I know it's super tiny, but you can see the original here, which you should do, post haste. They are things of beauty. Now if only someone would make one for me every day. And bring it to me, wrapped artfully and prettily in paper and twine. With a side of Diet Coke.

You Just Have to Look

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:03:00 +0000

Ever since Hollywood Housewife posted her Biore post way back in 2010, it's been a favorite of mine and I was so glad that she kept it after her re-do of her site a few months ago. Why do I love it so? Because of this...

Via

It's like a really bad wreck on the side of the road. You can't NOT look!

However, I've just come across something that might just beat it... Hold onto your seat...

Via

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:35:00 +0000

As the year goes further along, a lot of my time has been spent managing and motivating people, trying to figure out how to manage and motive people and none of it working. I've really thought about it in the last weeks. It's really been bothering me. Why do people not attend meetings, provide input, respond to emails...? Why take on a responsibility and then not follow through? And it came to me the other day when I was listening to a podcast. They were talking about how the TV shows Locked Up and Locked Up Abroad (I think these were the names - forgive me if these aren't right.) are different. In Locked Up Abroad, the jail cells (in whatever northern European location they were in) are nice - like mini apartments, the guards don't carry weapons and can't enter the cells because it would be an invasion of privacy. "What?," you might cry out, "Are they asking for trouble!?" But take a step backwards... The people that work at that prison respects their inmates. And I would go so far in saying that the inmates also respect the prison workers. And out of mutual respect, you have an unfortunate situation that works. (All of this is my guess work based off of a quick conversation on a podcast about a TV show they watched. I have no idea if any of this is true.) Why don't we - the royal "we" (much like the royal "they") - why don't we respect each other? Are we so concerned with our own selves and so self serving, that we forget the basic necessities of a working society?

Office Plants

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:47:00 +0000

Office Plant

Now that we don't have any more long holiday breaks (when they turn the heat off & my plants freeze), I finally brought in some more plants to green up my office a bit. The last one I brought froze overnight once. Ugh. I have no idea what the first one is, but it's super funky, so I love it. The Christmas cactus was a gift from a board member when I had them over for dinner one night. So sweet! Can't wait until it (hopefully) blooms.

Sunday Social #4

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 17:48:00 +0000

1. What is the best trip you've ever been on?

The best trip I’ve ever been on was in the summer 2000, when the three of us and a cat drove all of my crap to Arizona so that I could start culinary school. I'm sure there was the usual bickering and the usual, when you've been stuck in a car with each other for a week, but I don't remember any of that. Maybe it was because it was the beginning of a new start for me but my memories of that trip are great! We started from Atlanta, where I was living at the time. Packing the car and Uhall involved extended family (in the pouring rain) and as we were leaving the state, we met other family members for lunch. I would write emails to friends and family, chronicling our day and adventures. We toured museums, saw rice patties, saw ancient lava flows and hand painted art in caves, watched rain pour miles and miles away, washed our hands in sinks shaped like Texas, saw cars stuck "face first" in the ground, learned about earths gradient layers, drove down washboard dirt roads in the middle of nowhere, saw miles and miles of open space above the largest cut into the earths crust and moved into my apartment when it was 120 dry degrees. I still have those emails that I sent and will one day post all of them here (I've started).

2. What is your best idea for a girls weekend trip?

I had one several summers ago with my cousin Heather. At the time, all I wanted to do was sit on the beach, relax and do nothing. And that is exactly what we did! It was wonderful and I got to know her better than I ever had. I don’t like that we aren’t close and hope to have another weekend like that again!

3. What is the best vacation on the cheap?

Several years ago, I drove down by myself to Destin and camped at Henderson Beach State Park, sleeping in the car.

4. What is the place you most want to visit?

Random places – Turkey, Greece, Lake Powell, Czech Republic, Iceland…

5. What are your vacation necessities?

Not much! Electricity, air conditioning/heat, running water, books and magazine, interesting people to watch.

Self Portait?

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:55:00 +0000

You know those people who can take a good self portrait? Well, I am obviously not one of them. I got my hair did several weeks ago and I wanted to share since I really like it! I kid you not - this is the best of all of the pics that I took. I will NOT be making you suffer through them all! And I was having such a good hair day too - had used the large Velcro rollers and everything. At least you'll get the idea regarding the color. Sigh.

I'm off to Google how to take a good self portrait with your phone. Wish me luck!

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 20:00:00 +0000

The Big 35!

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 19:53:00 +0000

Yesterday we celebrated my little brothers birthday with a lunch out on the town and with a staple of Southern desserts - caramel cake. Not know for his love of much of anything sweet, caramel cake is his absolute favorite! One of his favorite uncle has always had caramel cake for his birthday, so when we were little my brother wanted it as well and the tradition continues!

Happy Birthday Little Brother!!

My gift to him is a weekend in Atlanta, a Braves game, a trip to the cyclorama & the zoo and dinner/movie at Movie Tavern. I've discovered that we have become those people who rarely leave their immediate area, so I thought we'd leave it! Not that Atlanta is far!

Sunday Social #3

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 09:00:00 +0000

1. Favorite movie of all time?

Oh, I don’t think I can name just one!

E.T.

Ferris Bueller’sDay Off

Almost Famous

Dead PoetsSociety …

2. Favorite movie quote?

"After all, tomorrow is another day!"

3. Best movie to watch for a girls night in?

Pride and Prejudice (because who doesn't love Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy and as he walks through the mists?!)

4. Favorite celeb eye candy?

Again, who could name just one?!

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock:

Via

ChristianSlater ever since Pump Up the Volume:

Via

Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday:

Via

Robert Downey Jr. in, well, everything:

Via

But my current favorite... Chris Pine

Via

Do you see a trend here? You should just visit my All Things Lovely Board on Pinterest & save time for everyone! Check out my other Sunday Socials!

Via

Bagging It

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Don't we all like to know what people carry around in their bags? Go Google image "what's in my bag" and scroll through. Go ahead. I'll wait. It's just like opening closet doors and bathroom vanity mirrors. You just have to do it - to see if your crap is as good as their crap and/or to see what you might need to purchase for yourself.

So here you go...This is in no way all that's in my bag. It's just a 1/4 maybe of the stuff that I lug around. The recorder is for the meetings I can't get out of, the notebook is for the lists I have to make because I can't remember anything, the thermometer is so that I'll have an accurate reading of the coolness of my office (and that's not in a good way) & who can't go anywhere without lotion, hand sanitizer, corkscrew, clippers/tweezers, lipstick (that Hollywood Housewife talked about) & ELF Zit Zapper?

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Pattie) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Watercolor Tattoo

Statue of Liberty, Paris, C. 1886

Clip Art

Say Less and Mean More