All I Have to Say.

After a day like today, long and hard. I needed a night like tonight. And let me tell you if you ever need a night to take things off your mind spend it with friends who understand. Love.

And Just When You Thought You Got Rid of Me..

I've spent a lot of time thinking about Sneezeweed lately, but not a whole lot of time doing anything about it. I still frequent blogger to check out all the amazing-everyday-people-writers out there and always feel guilty for not taking the time to drop on over into my own corner of cyberspace. But lately, that's just what I've been lacking: time.

I'm still twiddling my thumbs in my drab office on the second floor of a supermarket, and I still remind myself everyday that it's temporary even though sometimes it feels like this will be it. But I'm also endeavoring in others things these days too; and that's whats making life extra fantastic right now.

Some things are just meant to be. Some things just happen because they should, or they need to, or they don't need to but someone needs them to, or something like that. About a month ago I got a phone call from my favorite job I've ever had: Y Camp. I am a camp junkie. I spent summers frolicking in fields, playing sardines, catching bugs, tackling obstacle courses and hiking trails, making friendship bracelets, painting pictures while sitting on the edge of serene lakes, putting on cheesy talent shows, singing songs, canoeing, should I keep going here or do you get the point? I have enough of my own camp memories- some good, some bad, some bad turned absolutely hysterical- to fill ten sneeze-posts, and working at camp knowing I'm watching kids make their own camp memories makes me absolutely giddy.

After five summers at the Y I called it quits for that lovely nanny job last summer. Remember? And now with working for my family I really thought my camp days were over. But then one of those something-meant-to-be-because-someone-needed-them-things happened to me. Just when I thought I was doomed to spend my summer in a window-less office on the second floor of the supermarket, my Y called me up and asked me to come back as a part time director. Dare I say it? SCORE! And so really what I am getting at with this crazy camp tangent is that juggling two jobs, one that makes me feel all giddy, is that I am busy these days and I don't have a whole lot of extra time.

Then there was tonight. Tonight I was paroozing my favorite internet spots for a quick one liner, a feel-good quote. And well, I couldn't find one. Now I'm not one of those google "inspiration quotes" kind of people. I turn to other blogs, author's websites, and artist's projects for my one liner needs, and tonight none of my usual go-to spots had what I was looking for. I was frustrated, clicking in internet circles on my hunt. I finally thought about coming up with something on my own, which naturally lead me back here. And then, then I thought "damn I miss writing." And I do! So before I get all jumbled up and go on some more about my need for something creative in my crazed life, let me say this. If I can clear fifteen hours out of my week to devote to camp, something I love that makes me absolutely giddy, I can surely clear one or two hours to devote to writing, something that brings me solace and contentment.

And what do you know, the perfect one liner for my night popped up right here in this very post.

Some things are just meant to be. 

Some things just happen because they should, 

or they need to, or they don't need to but someone needs them to, 

or something like that.

And Today Came Spring..

there is this notion, that we should want

the wind at our back

for that extra push

to ease the load

for a faster pace.

but what's the use? we get

a clearer view

a crisper feel

a leisurely step, with

the wind in our face.

The Daily Sneeze ((or what's fueling the fire today))

- children's chatter.

- a quiet house. 

- compliments. 

- small dog ears. 

A Friday Night Well Spent

Some days I leave work and think I could really use a glass of wine.

Other days I head home with a nice cold beer on my mind.

Most of the time I walk out of that windowless office craving a night of laughing with friends.

But once in a while, on tiring days like today, I leave work thinking a bowl of ice cream, cozy pajamas, and a good movie is just what I need.

Sometimes life's that simple. Really, it is.

The Dream Machine

"When they ask what you do for a living

tell them what you do to live."

-Mia Johnson

I've been getting all too good at letting my job grab hold of me and my precious time lately, and it is beginning to wear down on me. I've been tired and moody and quiet and busy for the past few weeks, and well, it's just not like me. And then I stumbled upon Mia's words while paroozing the internet during a moment of escape one day and it all seemed to click. 

My job is terrible. I run around all day pretending like I know what I'm doing, always trying to please someone else. Some people are kind, but many are hostile and my head is usually swirling with "what if's.." all day as I think about the millions of other things that I would rather be doing. I've always wanted to be a teacher. What if I were doing that right now? I've always wanted to rock climb. What if I were doing that right now? I've always wanted to travel the globe. What if I were doing that right now? And then I look around and I'm still right there, in that office with no windows, desperately trying to stay afloat. But Mia reminded me that my job isn't my life and I need to start to do things that make me feel like I am living; and I've been thinking a whole lot about what those things are lately. 

Mia Johnson asks that we all share what it is we do to live, and when I think about what it is that I do to really live I can't help but think about all the things I've always dreamed about doing. When I was little I set out to be and do so many things. I craved adventure and sought it out, even if it was only a matter of pitching a tent in my living room. It was fun, and it was real, and I was alive. 

This post is already beginning to feel choppy and not as coherent as I'd like, so I think I'll get straight to the point. When I was little I begged my mom for tuxedo saddle shoes. I remember shopping with her and seeing them over and over, and she always refused to buy them. Every year when it was time to start  shopping for pencils and marble notebooks, sweaters and hair clips, I'd wish and hope that this would be the year I would get my shiny black and whites. Every year I went back to school with another pair of ordinary sneakers. When I ask my mom why I couldn't have the shoes back then, she tells me she was worried that all the other kids would make fun of them. That they really weren't as stylish as I had thought they were. But even still, to this day, I've always longed to strut my stuff in a pair of tuxedo oxfords. If I had a pair of saddle shoes today, I'd rock them like no other. I'd close my eyes, walk down the street and pretend that I was that little kid who *finally* got her dream shoes, and I would be so alive in that moment. 

So as I was sitting at my desk in the office with no windows, paroozing the internet and reading Mia Johnson's words, thinking about how strolling around in my saddle shoes would make this childhood dream come alive, I realized something. I am not that little kid who needs her mom to get these shoes for her. I am grown, and I can get them. Myself. I immediately started scouring the internet for a stylish pair of tuxedo oxfords. I've spent the last few days weighing out my decision; which pair is just right? As I searched and searched this dream grew and grew. I realized that I wasn't just buying a pair of shoes. I wasn't just satisfying this childhood craving. I was taking control of this whirlwind life, and I was doing something to live. 

When I finally settled on creating a custom pair of black and whites on the Keds website, realizing this childhood dream had grown into a full blown creative project. How awesome would it be if we all took the time to make one of our childhood dreams come true? How amazing would it be if we could document it? Show it to the world and say "hey look! I'm living!" Day to day life is often rushed through, looked over, and passed by. Sometimes it feels like we are spinning out of control, and just making it through an ordinary day can seem like some crazy miracle. Sometimes we loose sight of what is important, who is important, and why these things are important. But if you take a moment to look back at your hopes and dreams from when you were a child, you will likely find that you had the right idea back then. Maybe you wanted to swim in a bathtub filled with Jello. Maybe you wanted to wear a space suit and rocket to the moon. Maybe you wanted to be a cat. Maybe you wanted to eat ice cream for dinner. Maybe you always wanted to be a teacher or travel the world. Or maybe just wearing a pair of tuxedo oxfords would have made you ecstatic. No matter your big dream was when you were a child, you deserve to see it through now as an adult. You deserve to know what it feels like to live the way you always wanted to. And now, you have the mind and means to make it happen. So get creative. Find a way to make it happen, and do it. 

I've decided that I want to turn this idea into a community art project of a sort. This is me doing something to live. So here is what I am asking. 

-Think about your childhood dreams. What did you want to be? What did you want to see? What did you want to do? It can be as simple as purchasing that coveted pair of shoes, or as complex as finding a way to rocket into space. 

- Get creative. Make it happen. Will I ever be able to be a cat? Well. No. Can I put on cat ears and drink milk from a bowl with my tongue? Yes. Can I take long naps in the sun on lazy afternoons? Sure can. Can I play with yarn? You bet I can. Get the picture? and speaking of pictures...

-Document it. Get a good photo or two of your dream come true. Record the moment when you consciously decided to live this childhood dream. Make a memory, please. 

- Tell your story. Take a few minutes to tell where your dream started, why it hasn't happened yet, and definitely tell us how it felt when you finally fulfilled it. 

- Give it a tag line. Tell your story in one sentence, fifteen words or less. 

- Share your experience. Send off the complete package to me via e-mail. The photo, the story, and the tag line. 

In a few weeks I plan on launching a new blog dedicated solely to this project, and this first batch of dreams from you will be what I launch. And while you'll likely find that living this dream is prize enough, I'd still like to show you how much I appreciate you sharing it with me. So if you'd like to send along a mailing address with your image, story, and tagline I will send you a lovely 5x7 matted version of your dream. Photo and tag line on the front, story printed on the back, and a thank you note from me. I can picture it in my head, it will be lovely. Promise. 

I may have to show up to work everyday to make a living, but this is what I am going to do to live right now. Displaying childhood dreams come true will be an honor. It will be fun. It will be real. And oh how it will make us all feel alive. 


The Daily Sneeze ((or what's making me feel alive today))
- melted chocolate ice cream.
- tuxedo oxfords in the mail.
- small dog.


oh and...
p.s. yes, this does mean I am back to Sneezweeding. for real this time. so please, keep checking back. 

The Daily Sneeze Tease

The Daily Sneeze ((or what's fueling the fire today))


-busy schedules
-dancing
-dried fruit
-sleepovers


yes yes I've neglected the sneeze again. but well, with getaways and birthdays and roadtrips and things it's all been in the name of happiness. more later :) 

A Little Bit of Show and Tell

POINTS

Did you win the Superbowl yesterday?

If so
congratulations!

If not
let’s work on that.
You’ve got an entire year.
Unless of course
you are not eligible
because of your age,
size,
determination
or the fact that you don’t play or like football.

If that’s the case
let’s find you something else to win.
There are plenty of things:
Games
Awards
Lotteries
Hearts
Life

Just pick something
whatever it is
and hurry up and give it a goso that this time next year
the rest of us can cheer you on
and possibly dump beverages on you
because we are so happy
that we can’t control ourselves
and this is the only thing that makes sense to do
in celebration.


-Dallas Clayton


I'm sure Dallas didn't mean for this to be taken literally; but really what a wonderful idea! No matter who you rooted for on Superbowl Sunday, why not celebrate yourself on Monday? So I'm sitting here eating a brownie sundae (with an imaginary candle on top) celebrating all I've done in the last year. I've worked, taught, loved, graduated, traveled, learned, played, saved, failed, tried, succeed, talked, thought, and smiled. And well, if all of that isn't something to celebrate I don't know what is. 


So please, go get the best treat you can imagine, put an imaginary candle on top, and celebrate yourself today too.