Comforts and Routines

I’m closing out my third month in my new city. I love everything about living in Kansas City, the landscape, the people, the options for entertainment and the everyday experiences. I’m constantly marveling in the things I have access to. I’ve met some new people that are wonderful, I’ve reconnected with some that I knew in my previous city and I’m making new connections and routines every day. As I’ve been here for a few months, it dawned on me the other day that there are some things about living somewhere for a long period of time that I took for granted. Mainly those little rituals, routines and regular events I did every day or every week are things I’m noticing I miss.

Changes Bloom

I’ve had this orchid for almost two years. I got it as a gift when a major change in my life occurred. It was in full bloom when I received it, as orchids often are. I’ve known many who have discarded this plant after the blooms have died because it’s just not quite as pretty or they assume it is dead. I decided I would keep working with this plant as long as the leaves were alive. I wasn’t sure if the correct temperature or amount of sunshine would ever be right for it to bloom again. I watched it lose leaves and gain new ones. Eventually the roots were growing out of the mulch. I knew it was time to repot but I was afraid to disturb the growing process.

On Networking

We’ve all been there, that awkward moment where you walk through the door of a crowded room of professional peers and you don’t know a soul. It’s a very vulnerable and uncomfortable place to be. You know you know you are good at your job. You know you know the industry you work in but you are still on the outside. Some of us never muster up the courage to walk into that room. Talking yourself into it seems impossible. Why do some of us take the leap? Because it works.

New Horizons

I am fortunate enough to have some really great people in my life. In fact, I’ve made it a point to only surround myself with those who treat people the way I want to treat them. I am a firm believer that you get what you give. If you give someone an authentic friendship, one where you are truly present for them, you can expect the same in return.

Valentine’s Day: A day we love to hate

I don’t love Valentine’s Day but I don’t hate it. I get that people find it a commercial holiday to generate more money. But show me a holiday that is not commercial. Mother’s Day? Do we not try and show our mothers we love them all year long? I hardly hear many people grumble about Mother’s Day and say they “don’t celebrate” because it is some commercial holiday. Why the hatred of Valentine’s Day more so than any of the other holidays?

Priorities

I ride on the outside fringe of the tech geek universe. I know a thing or two about certain areas of technology. I’m not an official guru or “geek” as they are lovingly called in the industry, but as a graphic designer I do pay attention to new technology out of interest and for professional reasons. I’m a Mac – and a die-hard devout Mac user at that. So I do get excited about Apple and their products. I have not used a PC as my main computer since 1995 and I do not plan to ever go back. However, the release of the latest iPhone gave me reason for pause.

Part of something powerful

AP Photo

Environmental issues are near and dear to my heart. A lot of it has to do with where I grew up. I was fortunate to live in the unspoiled land of the Flint Hills. So this crisis in the Gulf has me beside myself with wonderment and disgust. I am marveling at the fact that such an accident could even happen. I have done my fair share of reading on the oil industry and particularly the domestic oil industry. I know of the leaky pipelines and obnoxious contraptions that impede nature in all corners of the country. I know that a disaster such as this is only a fraction of what could go wrong. Even so, knowing all of that does not make this any easier to accept.

I Wanna Rock

Anyone who knows me even casually knows I am passionate about music. I have it playing just about every waking hour of my day. Sometimes I get into a zone when I am working  and hours pass in a blink. It is a huge part of my creative process. Some people travel for leisure, I attend live music shows. I scour tour dates in the fall and spring and plan the shows I want to hit over the season. Additionally, the pinnacle of my year is the annual Wakarusa Music Festival. Nothing makes me happier than four days of camping with fabulous people and listening to some of the best music out there. It’s also where I find new music.

Perspective

I’ve been struggling lately. I don’t know if it is the weather not quite turning to spring, the fact that I have too many irons in the fire or a combination of many factors. I think it is a human flaw, or perhaps just a cultural flaw among Americans, to live in a “me first” environment. I try my hardest not to live like that. I am passionate about helping others in need of a hand up or just in need of perspective but sometimes I lose sight of the prize and have a pity party.

Shameful plug or PSA?

Well, here it is. The first of many posts under this topic headline. I will use this area to talk about any professional project I have in the works.

Today was the successful launch of the Wichita Gridiron website. Though Gridiron has been happening for several years, it has never had a presence on the web. Working on a project like this is always rewarding for me. The event has a reputation in town for being wild, crazy and a damn good time, so I had that going for me. In addition, this is a charity event. The Kansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists does an amazing job of producing this event as a way to raise money for journalism scholarships for college students majoring in journalism in Kansas.