Humbled by your help.

“The two best prayers I know are ‘Help me. help me. help me.’ and ‘Thank you. thank you. thank you.‘
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

13 months ago I collapsed and said ‘Help me. help me. help me.’

The last 11 months have been one amazing ride for me. I landed in a position a little less than a year ago [although, it only seems like yesterday] to get paid for living my life. seriously. I get paid to talk about how much I love the arts. I get paid to learn about the Houston arts scene. And I get paid to meet people. OH: and I get paid to learn stuff. All sorts of stuff.

I’m still waiting for everyone to figure out I’m a complete impostor and idiot.

[Fast forward to my reason for this post.]

In the past month [and more so - THIS week] some amazingly generous mavens have patiently embraced my ignorance and given me an education in marketing that they usually make a living on teaching. And they do this not knowing me but just because they are really just that amazing. I’d like to recognize those people here [in no particular order]:

Schipul Web Marketing Company

Ed Schipul

Katie Laird

CarolineCollective

Matthew Wettergreen

Erica O’Grady

I collapse in gratitude to you . . .
‘Thank you. thank you. THANK YOU!‘

08.something.08 [aka a Fri night with Mer & Popeyes]

1) Cathartic Shopping Seven Jeans
I won’t disclose my size , but I pulled on a pair of Seven Jeans today. First. Time. EVER. All is right in the world.

2) Popeyes
Why does Popeyes put crack in their buttery biscuits and red beans & rice ? Luckily, I already had the Seven Jeans on when I succumbed to my weakness this evening … they rolled with the punches.

3) Old friends
I guess it’s all relative. This evening I reconnected with someone from middle school and my dear friend I hadn’t shared an ale with for FAR too long. Both well deserved. Made me ask - what the heck have I been waiting for?

4) Ummm, see number tres - I feel 2 friends = 2 positive things today.

5) Joss Stone - Right To Be Wrong.

6) To make up for #4 which I kinda faked - Olympic Opening Ceremonies.
So I watched them from a bar. It still counts! and I still hold them as one of the absolute high points of the day. I may regret that, but right now - way to go World.

7) [One extra for good measure] Running into a colleague in the beer section at Krogers at 10pm. It was an obvious beer run and there was hot Popeye’s in my backseat. Not alot of time for chit-chat. Glad we all agree on the same last-minute super-market though.

[Because I forgot to post last night ... and because there's so much to be happy for in the world]
Marcus from Last Comic Standing. Out of respect … for myself … and so as not risk embarrassment, I will not elaborate.

recipe for a successful blog

I’m confused. and unexciting. so this whole blog thing makes me dizzy and even more confused.

i sought help from my best friend about how i start. his advice:
ish: say hello.
ish: then sing everyone a song.
then give a recipe for cheese bread
then describe your 3rd grade teacher

so … here goes.

1) hello.
2) this song always used to cheer me up… ‘I’m a cucumber, I’m a cucumber, I’m a cucumber, I’m a cucumber, I’m a cucumber, I’m a cucumber … so please don’t put me in the pickle jar.’
3) recipe courtesy of Mimi Bobeck on www.recipezaar.com [someone thought it was mighty tasty]

Change to: Loaf US Metric

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Ingredients

• 2 (1/4 ounce) packets active dry yeast.
• 2 cups warm milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1/4-inch dice

Directions

1. Dissolve the yeast in the milk in a large mixing bowl and allow to proof for 5 minutes, until it begins to form a froth on the surface.
2. Add the sugar, butter, and salt and stir to dissolve.
3. Add the flour and beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
4. Add the cheese and mix to thoroughly combine.
5. Pour the batter into a well greased 1 1/2 quart (1. 5 L) casserole dish and cover loosely with waxed paper.
6. Allow to sit at room temperature until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
7. Bake in a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.

and finally … my 3rd grade teacher. Honestly, the grades blur but I do remember my Elementary School Principal … Mrs. Bowser. I remember I got to read my poetry about colors over the morning announcements and then led a school effort entering Mrs. Bowser into a Principal Of the Year nomination. I can sometimes even recall my dorky poem at random hours. I mostly remember, the book she gave me some years later … Oh, The Places You’ll Go. I still have it. I saw her soon after my high school graduation, too, she had long since retired but still remembered me and my poems about red roses and the what the color green means to me.

So, there it is. My first blog.