Perforation Problems

Someday in an imaginary world where sugar counts as a whole grain and buttercream frosting is a vegetable, and where there are no recriminations, no consequences, no reasons to feel guilty that you're shoving cookie after cookie into your face, I will join the Cheryl's Buttercream Cookie of the Month Club. And every month, delightful concoctions will appear at my door, marking the passage of time with their seasonal sprinkles and appropriate cutout shapes, and there shall be cookies, all the time, everywhere. Never again will I say, "I wish I had a cookie." It will only be, "I shall go get a cookie, because I have many." Cookies will abound and be plentiful, and everyone will be happy. Ah, such dreams for mortal men! The glory.

This post might be a little jibbery, if you know what I mean. I'm in Starbucks, where I just got my free venti latte from my rewards card. I haven't been drinking as much caffeine since I stopped working in an office and I don't think I realized that until this exact moment. I left the house for some new scenery, hoping it might get my writing going. There are more people here than I expected – and an interesting mix of people, too. A kid drawing in a book while his mom and her friend talk. A man in dad jeans with his HP notebook, sitting back with headphones in and his hands clasped in his lap, his eyes focused on something on his screen as if in a trance. Students working at a table, laughing and playing with their phones. A woman in a suit with Toms and Spotify and Luna music stickers on her laptop. And a girl who from the side looks like someone I know, but she won't turn enough for me to be sure. It's been almost three months since I started working for mys...

Prompt: "Take a moment to dip into the deep well of the past year's 24-hour news cycle. What world event moved you this year? What story, series, or moment fascinated you? Made you scratch your head? Brought you to the edge of tears...or past the edge of your seat? Did an outside perspective change the way you felt, or make you take action? Share the headline(s) that resonated with you." I'm lousy at following the news. I usually have a general idea what's going on, but it's like I treat it with the same concern I do the plot of some reality housewives show I don't watch. It's happening, but it happens outside of my bubble. Why is that? Maybe I'm scared of caring too much, maybe I don't think me caring will make any kind of difference. Maybe I'm just too selfish and unworldly of a person? I'm not proud of it at all. I think it's one of my weaknesses. If I were a better person, I'd care about what's happening in the world a...

Let's not talk about how much of a failure I've been at my Think Kit posts. Let's just see how many I can make up. Prompt: "Nametags and punchbowls aren't necessary (but we're okay with that!) – who did you meet this year? Was it awkward? Enlightening? Was your first impression correct? Was it accidental & meant to be, pre-arranged, or somewhere in-between? Whether you found a soulmate, held a new baby, or finally trusted someone to style your hair just so, write about a new person (or people) in your life." There were a lot of new people in my life this year. A lot of people left the company I work for and new ones came to take their place -- it's amazing how fast the dynamics of a workplace can change when the people change. I got a new boss (again), new people joined the marketing team, new people joined my brand strategy team. The people I worked with most closely changed, and so the day-to-day changed, the atmosphere and mood of everything...

So here are the three prompts I've missed this week: Sunday: " Wave your magic wand – whoosh – what would you transform, create, or make disappear in 2015? Don't be afraid to change the world, or merely alter the mundane. Just be prepared to defend your decision with reason, or irrational emotion!  Monday: "Get on your soapbox. What issue, idea, or stance were you vocal about this year? Or did you let it internally build up? Was there an event, person, or time that triggered your strong reaction? Or was it a slow-burn? Why do you feel so strongly – is it personal? Emotional? Strictly reasonable?"  Today: "The calendar still says 2014, but let's push forward. What are you looking forward to in 2015? Is there an event, special occasion, or reunion that you're counting down the days until? Planning a trip? A life change? A move? Or maybe it's the simple pleasures – the release of a movie, something or someone hitting a stage near you." ...

Today's prompt: "Work, home, and _____. Where was your third place this year? Did you like it, love it, ...or was it out of obligation? What feeling, sense, or vibe did you get from your third place? If someone can't imagine the scene, give the lay of the land in words. Is there natural light? Is there a certain smell? Bring us inside." That's an interesting question, and I'm not quite sure how to answer it. Is this supposed to be a physical place or a metal one? My first reaction was to think about it in terms of mental places, and if I think about what's occupied my time and energy this year, here's the list I would make: My job + specifically the launch of our new brand Olive & Clyde Michael My family Trying to figure out my next step Our attic But on second glance, the prompt seems to be asking more about physical places. That's tough, because really I spend most of my time at work or at home. When we go places, it's out fo...

So I'm supposed to write a post today but I'm about to drive to Cincinnati for a Christmas party, and realistically I know I'm not going to have time. So I'm going to do this real janky style. Prompt: "What did you say goodbye to this year? Was it a bad habit? A '94 hatchback? Or something less tangible? How did you feel the day after? The week after? Or! What did you say hello to this year? Did it enrich your life...or detract? A new favorite possession? A tattoo? Did you decide that your life was missing something, or did you just fall into new-ness? Share your aloha!" I'm about to say a big goodbye -- to my job. And a big hello -- to a new life as an entrepreneur and writer and consultant. The other big goodbye was to our attic...and a big hello to our new TV room/bedroom and my office. Both of those are going to have a big impact on my 2015 :) Happy Weekend!!