Here They Come

On the first day of January I unexpectedly made a little money on some jewelry. As I'm planning to set up an Etsy shop, I take this as a very good sign for the next year! (Additionally, I got some impromptu expert job-search coaching and professional contacts, which I take as an astronomically good sign* for the next year!)

I have a hunch that some of the best surprises are going to (continue to) be delivered by terrific friends.

Any lovely/exciting/intriguing 'signs' and indications for your next year so far?






* See what I did there?

Ten Things - Part 1

I just ran across a remarkable talk by Milton Glaser, given in London in 2001.  I want to share it with you a section a day, so that you have a chance to think about each point. That's what I'll be doing.


Ten Things I Learned

1
YOU CAN ONLY WORK FOR PEOPLE THAT YOU LIKE.
This is a curious rule and it took me a long time to learn because in fact at the beginning of my practice I felt the opposite. Professionalism required that you didn’t particularly like the people that you worked for or at least maintained an arms length relationship to them, which meant that I never had lunch with a client or saw them socially. Then some years ago I realised that the opposite was true. I discovered that all the work I had done that was meaningful and significant came out of an affectionate relationship with a client. And I am not talking about professionalism; I am talking about affection. I am talking about a client and you sharing some common ground. That in fact your view of life is someway congruent with the client, otherwise it is a bitter and hopeless struggle.

Full essay here

Counting Down

OK, I'm in.

I've got just over a month until I leave for England, to stay for a year at the minimum and hopefully at least three. The next 30 days should have some interesting updates as I get a little crazy with the remaining details.

SUNDAY SNIPPET

Big lesson for the day: Be prepared. Stop putting things off and scraping by at the last minute... I got a call at 8:30 asking if I would lead the music in Sacrament Meeting. My ward starts at nine, and I'd just gotten out of the shower. In an excess of zeal I agreed to help out, determined to get to church on time. I scrambled out of the house fifteen minutes earlier than usual, but still only a minute before the meeting was scheduled to start. I rushed in just as the counselor was announcing the opening song, and walked up on to the stand in time to open my hymnbook and start the song. Whew.

I REALLY have to get ready first, laze around reading or on the Internet later!

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Good meetings today - the theme of Sacrament Meeting was Spiritual Priorities. The message was "Good, Better, Best": we have to stop allowing ourselves to be distracted away from the most important things, even if the other activities we choose to engage in are still good. We have more "discretionary" time than any other generation, and we will be held accountable for the uses to which we put that time. "We must not be caught up in the thick of thin things."

With about 34 days to go, I'd better take this advice to heart!

Watch out for falling turtles,

Cyd

BLIMEY!!!

THE APPLICATIONS ARE IN! ALL HAIL THE QUEEN (AND MY FABULOUS COUSIN WHO DID ALL THE WORK) 'CAUSE I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL! IN ENGLAND!

So, around the 15th of July there will be a British-themed post (though that one will probably include music, fireworks shooting from the computer, and a Photoshopped picture of me and the Queen) that will share which of the programs I applied to that I'll be attending. Of course it's still not 100% sure that I'll get in, but I've been reassured that, being American, I'm a shoo-in as a quota-filler. I love shooing-in! Stay tuned. (And pray. Couldn't hurt.)

If you'd like to check things out (as I'm sure you all will, since it's summer and everyone's BORED) take a look here and here. Which would you choose, if you were a bright-eyed and aspiring young dramaturg (or failing that, me)?

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Remember this? Just for my sister, I'm going to try it again. (Also, there were some pretty good ideas going on that I ought to get back to.) Off we go (once more)!

Day 1 - An Auspicious Beginning

In which we shall see: The first of 30 thoughtful, humorous, educational, punny, occasionally downright silly posts (as differentiated from previous posts only by their frequency), and lots of pictures of people doing Shakespearean things.

*

Welcome! Today I begin my "30 Days of Posts", as inspired by a couple of good friends. To start from the VERY beginning, check out the first post. If you just started reading and are at least slightly curious as to what's up with the turtle stuff, go here. If you'd like to know a little more about me before we dive into the next thirty days, read up here. The point of this project is to see if I can do it - and to document the goals I'm working on and the resulting changes (and improvements!).

Today's Report: I did not, in fact, get up and workout this morning. I did, however, take a hike around the Conference Center after I arrived at work (on time!), and plan to take two more laps before I finish today.
I no longer feel quite like this: (The Tony Stark facial hair was never a problem, and) I did find ONE round-neck shirt (whew).

* * * * *

Last night was the final rehearsal for the BHS Shakespeare Competition team that I've been helping to coach. I've had a marvelous time, and these kids work SO HARD (thanks, I might add, to the fine example of their teacher. She's got them whipped into shape)! We found some really wonderful things, and got to explore some exciting acting/storytelling... and I got to experiment with a few off-the-wall ideas that ended up working out beautifully. Instincts! Follow them! Here's the crew:

In a scene from Richard III, Mike attempts to convince a pair of oafish assasins (Cameron and Dylan) that if they have any hope of salvation they shouldn't kill him.

Chelsey plays the novice Isabella as she tells her brother that he will be spared execution the next day if she agrees to sleep with a corrupt priest in Measure for Measure.

Maida helps Queen Margaret get a little crazy as she rages against her family's murderer in a monologue from Richard III.

In another perspective of the same scene from Richard III, Madeline portrays the Duchess of York as she ponders killing Richard (her son).

Beatrice (Margot) convinces Benedick (Chance) to help her avenge her cousin and "Kill Claudio" in this scene from Much Ado About Nothing. (It's a very cute scene, I promise.)

The fabulous teacher, Phaidra, me, and our crack team of competitors! (Ho, boy.) Break lots of legs, everybody - I'm so sorry I can't be down in Cedar City with you! USE THOSE "O"S!!!

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Question of the Day: Who would you consider a modern-day Shakespeare?

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Watch out for falling turtles,

Cyd