Reverb10 - Release, create, love

To participate in the Reverb10 prompts, reflect on 2010 and manifest for 2011, check 'em out here.

December 5: Let Go.  What (or whom) did you let go of this year?  Why?

Control.  I've always been an over-achiever and a worrier; I've always had a pretty tight hold on what I expect and how I'm going to get it.  This year taught me that I can't control everything; I've learned I don't even want to control everything because it often turns out SO much better when I just allow things to be what they are.

December 6: Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?

Besides my writing... :)  the last things I made were banners and signs for an event at work; I designed them in Photoshop & then the company printed them & they looked really good.  But the last things I made without prompting from anyone were the art pieces I made for the last Side Work show.  I sculpted wire hearts and made a lotus out of cardboard, newspaper and watercolors - picking only the positive, celebratory newspaper articles (which are really hard to find).  They all sold, which was such a great feeling.  I would like to do more projects like that; I always have a million crafty ideas, and I'm pretty good at executing them, but I don't put it at the top of my priority list, generally.  I would definitley like to carve out more time for creating physical, beautiful things, because it gives me an instant feeling of achievement.

December 7: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

The Stratejoy community has been THE most amazing, unexpected support group for me this year.  To those of y'all that found me on SJ, thank you, from the bottom of my heart; you've made the experience of writing cathartic, meaningful, and so very joyful for me.  In 2011 I really want to connect more deeply with that community and with similar people; I want to create an inspirational community (plans are in the works & expect something new & shiny to be revealed in January!!!)

Also, my LA "family" of friends has been an amazing, supportive community for me through this year of ups and downs, lefts and rights, confusion and clarity.  Through each step, they've said with a laugh, "we can't keep up with you, but we love you and are so excited for you."  On Thanksgiving, I looked around at a living room full of friends and thought: I love ALL of these people.  So much.  Thanks, y'all.

Today I am so happy & grateful for:
~ catching up  :)
~ Christmas champagne
~ a busy busy week/weekend with friends

xo! n.

[photo: my art display at Side Work]

Spreading Christmas Cheer!

My weekend was very festive!

Saturday Teeter, Chick and I were elves at Santa's Workshop at the Magic Castle.  We tray passed milk and cookies, helped kids stuff bears & bunnies and decorate wooden cars & trucks, and hung out with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  Don't be surprised if you see a Christmas card that looks a lot like this in your mailbox this year...

And do you see those hot elf shoes Teeter's sporting?  I had a first date later that night & on a dare from Chick, totally rocked those shoes to the coffee shop.  Oh yeah.  Luckily, I think he found it more funny than weird...  :)

Meanwhile, my new house underwent a transformation!  The landlord finally pulled up our nasty 20-year old carpet so now we have wood floors upstairs in the living room!!  She's not refinishing them until we move out (fair enough) so they're very stained and scratched, but it still looks two billion times better than the carpet did.  We have a Christmas tree, too, and the TV's been mounted above the fireplace (instead of in front of it), and all these lovely new elements make for a house that really looks like a welcoming home instead of a dirty frat pad.  Yahoo!

 Then, on Sunday, after a gray day sitting in my pjs with football on the TV & a cup of coffee in hand, I headed over to Teeter & Chick's house to help them decorate for Christmas!  We watched old-school Rudolph (Santa's a butthole in that movie!) and sipped hot chocolate.

It's been quite a lovely weekend.  How was yours?

Today I am so grateful & happy for:
~ Christmas decorating
~ clarity & calm
~ french press coffee

xo!  n.

Everything I Need...

There's a Muppet movie filming right outside my window (and let me just tell you how very happy that makes me - I love love loooooove the Muppets!!) at work this week.  I can't see much of the action due to a lot of equiptment and a poorly placed church facade, but they're playing the music over and over so the dancers and puppeteers can rehearse.  At first I tuned it out as just another element in the cacophany that is my on-lot work environment, but as it plays, I've been slowly picking out words, and DUDE.  I so needed to hear this:

"You've got everything that you neeeeeeeed,

right in front of you!

I've got everything that I neeeeeeed,

right in front of me!

Life's a happy song..."

Oh Muppets, y'all are the freaking best.

Today I am so happy & grateful for little reminders.

xo! n.

[photo source]

Only in Hollywood

Overheard today at work:

"Muppets are shooting in the firehouse."

No!  Fozzie, put down the gun!  What did that dalmation ever do to you!!??  Hee heee heeeee...

xo!  n.