I wasn't planning on baking or cooking anything special for Thanksgiving. When I was asked by my friends and colleagues "what are you doing on TG" my response was "nothing really. hang out with my family and relax" They couldn't believe I wasn't making turkey, even though I explained that my daughter is a vegetarian and plus my oldest son doesn't really like turkey.
Well, the night before Thanksgiving & guilt spread through me. Why, you ask, just because I wasn't cooking an abnormally large meal? Yes. It's in my blood some how. For 40 years this has been part of my annual rhythm so why stop now. I was in the grocery store and saw that organic turkey sitting there, calling my name. Eat me, eat me, they killed me for no reason if you don't eat me. Let me add that I was a vegetarian before I met my husband. Well, not a real vegetarian as I ate a bucket of steamers every Friday night with my son Nigel. Other than that, no meat. Then I met my husband who is strictly meat & potatoes. I cooked meals for both of us at the beginning (veggie & meat); then became lazy and slowly incorporated meat into my diet too...
Anyway, back to the turkey. I put it in the cart, bought a few other items and headed home. Nobody made a smarty comment like "I thought you weren't going to cook" which was a shock. So, I seasoned the turkey and went to bed. The next morning, I woke up, went to the gym and I worked out (ran into some coworkers, yuck, not the way I want to see them) came home, baked turkey, stuffed eggplant, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, noodle kuggle, dressing (w/meat), dressing (w/out meat) and chocolate pie (remember, I'm cooking for a veghead and meatheads). After 5 hours in the kitchen, we sat down and devoured the fabulous meal. I was stoked everyone ate. Even Cooper the 15 year old who said "I don't like turkey" consumed a growing man's share of turkey and stuffing
So, I'll call this years Thanksgiving a success. Next year, I want to rent a beach house or a yurt in Grayland and just escape the desire for big cooked meal and focus more on being disconnected from the digital world and more connected with my fabulous family. I hope you and yours had an absolutely fabulous Thanksgiving holiday. Cheers!
Nov 28, 2008
Nov 26, 2008
Talks Malcolm Gladwell: What we can learn from spaghetti sauce
I enjoyed this speaker as he makes me question what we ask in our surveys & the data we review each week. Take a listen...
(Update on Grey Poupon) - GP found that their mustard revenue dropped as customers only purchased GP for special occasions. The company had to reposition their mustard to encourage their customers to buy @ same cadence as say French's yellow mustard - the daily mustartd.
(Update on Grey Poupon) - GP found that their mustard revenue dropped as customers only purchased GP for special occasions. The company had to reposition their mustard to encourage their customers to buy @ same cadence as say French's yellow mustard - the daily mustartd.
Twitter is my ADD fix
Last Saturday I decided to go a full 24 hours without any computer interaction. That means, not touching a computer, keyboard or smartphone. Why, you ask, would I willingly disconnect from half of my life - well, because the other half was begging for more attention. I had the guilt of my 8 year old standing near me trying to chat while I typed away and looked empty eyed (or zombie-eyed) at the screen. My neck & shoulders were achy and I wasn't hitting my daily activity goal. So, one day of real life and fresh air it is....
What was the first area I missed right off the bat? Well, it was checking in on the twitterverse to see what everyone was up to. What new questions, answers, sites, fashion, or funny topics were posted and would make me laugh. I then wondered why these things are so important to me when I have a physical life that can be equally interesting. Not so jet-set, but equal in adventures and humour. So I moved on with my day. I next realized I was holding back from running to the computer to find things - what hour did the gym close, when was open swim for B, a new place to eat, any meetups 2night? Searching for something through a paper phone book seems so old school (and not in a good way).
Watching my hubby tap away on the computer and sit on twitter did not help at all. Then again, any time I diet he brings home soda, ice cream, cake, Cheetos and any other crap because he can eat them. He says he doesn't do it to ruin my diet, but I believe he just doesn't "think" about anything past himself. Not nice, but true.
One sad thing I did notice, every time the SteepNCheap gong went off and echoed through the house, I found myself getting up to walk to the computer to check out the deal. I wasn't aware I was so well trained like a dog - I'll have to work on that one (so sad).
I kept myself busy running around with my daughter and then my 8 year old. We had a great day talking to each other and exploring new adventures. At night, we ate in the dining room with the kitchen door closed. We played ugly doll (card game) and snuggled up in my bed and read a book (no TV).
I think it was a great idea to disconnect as it really showed me where my dependencies are. I don't think it's a bad thing for me to be connected, I just need to know when to step away and join my physical universe. My teenagers during this time did the same activities they always do. there was no rush to include me in their daily events, so there's no guilt there. For my 8 year old, I'll do a better job to connect when he's home and take walks at night so he can tell me all about his day and watch the stars. Things we used to do every day, before work and my curiosity got the best of me.
Interestly, @balibones posted a tweet asking if anyone went a full day disconnected. I responded that I had the previous Sat. Here was his response: "balibones @simchabe - Congratulations you're the only one! The rest of us are doomed. You're replying so I take it the world didn't end? 9:10 AM Nov 24th from web in reply to simchabe " I explained the world didn't end and I planned on doing it again, but next time, I'm going to document every time I think I need to connect as I'd love to see the pattern of interest.
Analysis of outcome - Fabulous. Will Do Again A++
What was the first area I missed right off the bat? Well, it was checking in on the twitterverse to see what everyone was up to. What new questions, answers, sites, fashion, or funny topics were posted and would make me laugh. I then wondered why these things are so important to me when I have a physical life that can be equally interesting. Not so jet-set, but equal in adventures and humour. So I moved on with my day. I next realized I was holding back from running to the computer to find things - what hour did the gym close, when was open swim for B, a new place to eat, any meetups 2night? Searching for something through a paper phone book seems so old school (and not in a good way).
Watching my hubby tap away on the computer and sit on twitter did not help at all. Then again, any time I diet he brings home soda, ice cream, cake, Cheetos and any other crap because he can eat them. He says he doesn't do it to ruin my diet, but I believe he just doesn't "think" about anything past himself. Not nice, but true.
One sad thing I did notice, every time the SteepNCheap gong went off and echoed through the house, I found myself getting up to walk to the computer to check out the deal. I wasn't aware I was so well trained like a dog - I'll have to work on that one (so sad).
I kept myself busy running around with my daughter and then my 8 year old. We had a great day talking to each other and exploring new adventures. At night, we ate in the dining room with the kitchen door closed. We played ugly doll (card game) and snuggled up in my bed and read a book (no TV).
I think it was a great idea to disconnect as it really showed me where my dependencies are. I don't think it's a bad thing for me to be connected, I just need to know when to step away and join my physical universe. My teenagers during this time did the same activities they always do. there was no rush to include me in their daily events, so there's no guilt there. For my 8 year old, I'll do a better job to connect when he's home and take walks at night so he can tell me all about his day and watch the stars. Things we used to do every day, before work and my curiosity got the best of me.
Interestly, @balibones posted a tweet asking if anyone went a full day disconnected. I responded that I had the previous Sat. Here was his response: "balibones @simchabe - Congratulations you're the only one! The rest of us are doomed. You're replying so I take it the world didn't end? 9:10 AM Nov 24th from web in reply to simchabe " I explained the world didn't end and I planned on doing it again, but next time, I'm going to document every time I think I need to connect as I'd love to see the pattern of interest.
Analysis of outcome - Fabulous. Will Do Again A++
Nov 5, 2008
Plurk, Nigel & Friday @Matts
Hey, I just found Plurk by a twitter reference. Super cool looking and I love the hover help and suggestions, especially people I may be interested in following. I'm updating my profile information and we'll see what happens next. I also easily added Plurk to this blog, how cool is that! Hey, @LokeUei is on Plurk with links to his ping where I beieve he does a lot of his management. I'm going to ask him about that.
Now I found Nigel and it is playing super cool music for me.http://radionigel.com/
Friday At Matt's
I can't wait to see everyone and to relax and unwind with my favorite people.
We will totally miss everyone who cannot attend! We are going to have a total blast ; chillin and drinking. We’ll schedule another gathering in December to entertain those of us that may be stuck in Seattle/Eastside.
Nov 3, 2008
find username here
http://usernamecheck.com/
I'm reviewing varoius socialmedia sites, creating my Simchabe account so I can learn what I like in my ideal socialnetworking engine. Some sites, I won't sign up for (I'm not that creative) others, provide ideas on what the ideal engine would look like.
What about my own Simply Simchabe Show http://www.ustream.tv/channel/simply-simchabe
How cool would that be? Except, what the hell am I going to talk about. Does this mean I have to go on a diet and lose weight and have botox injections, make-up and fake boobs? Can I dance around in boots and my underwear? Or should I just be myself? Hmm, makes me wonder who I really am - focused on fashion & fun or focused on organic, comfort and love ...
I'm reviewing varoius socialmedia sites, creating my Simchabe account so I can learn what I like in my ideal socialnetworking engine. Some sites, I won't sign up for (I'm not that creative) others, provide ideas on what the ideal engine would look like.
What about my own Simply Simchabe Show http://www.ustream.tv/channel/simply-simchabe
How cool would that be? Except, what the hell am I going to talk about. Does this mean I have to go on a diet and lose weight and have botox injections, make-up and fake boobs? Can I dance around in boots and my underwear? Or should I just be myself? Hmm, makes me wonder who I really am - focused on fashion & fun or focused on organic, comfort and love ...
Hello World
I'm working on creating an account in each social media tool currently available. Basically, pissing on each location to mark my username/alias and then moving forward.
My family, on the other hand, is watching Iron Man, which sounds interesting.
Fun, fun, fun
My family, on the other hand, is watching Iron Man, which sounds interesting.
Fun, fun, fun
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