delara, interrupted

I love training! No matter how tired it makes me feel, it is just so fulfilling for me. Honestly. I have spent the last three days on my feet - non-stop pretty much - and I love it! I feel energized.

It should be a crime to feel this happy about the work one gets to do in life. Teaching is very special work - whether you're teaching children who are small or bigger children over the age of 30. (Sales reps qualify, no?) I think, deep down inside, I have always had a knowing that I ought to be a teacher of some sort. I am just so grateful these days to have that opportunity.

Just thought I'd share the love!

Publisher's note - I have GOT to change my default setting for blog entries to publish! Almost a week of entries not posted and sitting there as drafts. Boo! My most humble apologies to my loyal fans - all two of you.)

Posted by Delara at 07:27 AM | Permalink

This is just a little homage to my angel, Paulie. One of my angels anyway, I suspect. I always appreciate the support, the love, the help. It's good. It's very good. Thank you, my love.

Sigh...

Sometimes I really do get moved to tears if I think about his spirit. Even now, I'm getting all verklempt. (gulp) Talk amongst yourselves.

Posted by Delara at 09:22 AM | Permalink

I fully realize, now, that I was not meant to be a participant in life. In anything, for that matter - at meetings, at work, at conferences, in my family. I don't know if it's ADD or my five-year-old-like tendencies, ants in my pants, or what. I cannot just sit and listen passively. Taking notes doesn't quite cut it. Walking around is good - I am still listening. Talking to other people about the topic of discussion at the moment is even better. But ultimately, I need more than that. I need to be behind the scenes, running around with a headset on and organizing things. Coordinating. Planning. Troubleshooting. Yeah, baby!

And it's not that consultation or discussions are boring - on the contrary. Especially this year at Convention - great consultation, especially about youth and their role as future leaders.

And I definitely should not be someone who people seek out, wanting to talk with me because of the role I fill. The painful truth is that it does not feel right at all! I am not the frontrunner - I am the sidekick. Sidekicks get to coordinate, at least a little. Right?

Bottom line, I need to be in the mix, but not in the spotlight, thank you very much.

Posted by Delara at 07:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This may seem strange to you all, but I have no white shirts. This is TOTALLY ironic considering two years ago Paulie would tease me about only having white shirts. Not a diversified portfolio, he'd say. Every time I'd even think of picking up a white shirt while we were shopping he'd give me a dirty look and remind me about the 50 gazillion white shirts or sweaters I had back at home. But alas, my efforts to purchase more color in my wardrobe has left me with no white shirts. Literally! Oh yes, I have those 5-6 off-white (otherwise known as winter white or cream) tops, and there are even those cream colored corduroys. But no white. Sad.

So, I did what any respectable woman would do. I dashed out to TJ Maxx the other day (yes, I do much of my shopping there, dahlings - discount is the new chic) and I bought three white tops. Immediately my blood pressure went back to normal. I am breathing much easier now. And I have more color in my life. Hee hee.

Posted by Delara at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

We are in the throes of preparing for the 94th Annual National Convention for the <a href="http://www.us.bahai.org">Baha'is of the United States</a>. It will be an intimate gathering of about 300 people from around the country, and about 170 of those people will elect our National Spiritual Assembly. Way cool.

So, naturally I feel like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.

And I am to give a presentation (10-15 minutes - of what?!??) Thursday evening. I have rewritten it at least three times now.

Ack!

But it's all good. I will get sleep eventually. Don't worry.

Posted by Delara at 06:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Y'all need to check out Mitch Hedberg if you get a chance. My brother and I have been laughing to his comedy routines for the past week now after having caught him on Comedy Central the other night. WAY funny! His site is www.mitchhedberg.net and if I had more time I'd create a link for you myself. But alas... I feel like it's finals week and it's been a LONG time since I've been in school. What's up with that? Anyway, check out Mitch. And can we figure out a way to get him to Chicago, please?

Posted by Delara at 09:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Of course, Matrix Reloaded was AMAZING last night! We loved it! We cried, we laughed! We watched Neo and Trinity kick some ass! We almost went to the theater wearing dark sunglasses and long black coats - because that would have just been too fun. But we wimped out on that one. Maybe in six months when we soak in the glory that is Matrix Revolutions.

To all those critics out there who didn't get it or didn't like it - WHATEVER!

A few highlights - there were some scenes for which "visually stunning and breathtaking" just doesn't quite cut it. I'm already planning to go see it again in the next week or so, just to soak it in some more. Aaaaaaaahh! The story is very cool. The additional characters were fun to watch. And in general, it just rocked.

And to make last night even more spectacular, WEST WING!!!! Man, was it ever amazing last night. I cannot wait until next season to see what unfolds. Intense. None of us could move or speak during commercial breaks because we were just rapt up in the WW world.

I'm reeling from all the intensity of last night. Wednesdays are all good, I say.

Posted by Delara at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO SEE MATRIX 2 - RELOADED TOMORROW NIGHT!!! In the words of the immortal Marc Rocks, "WOO HOO!" Actually, it's really tonight since we are into the a.m. hours now. But I digress. YEAH, BABY!

Posted by Delara at 12:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Ok. So I was in a complete giggle fit tonight after my brother shared with me that he doesn't like to say the word penis out loud. So... he says "peenee" instead. Honestly, I could not stop laughing for at least 10 minutes. And the giggles did not subside much two hours later as I sit here and blog this. Just say it - pee nee. PEE NEE! PEEEEE NEEEEE!!!! Try not to pee in your pants while you laugh.

This after a random comment I made earlier today that saying the word "penile" out loud is pretty darn funny. Especially if you say it over and over again. Try this one out too - peeenile.

What are some other good things to say out loud?

Posted by Delara at 11:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Ok - so here's the poll for the week. Feel free to post comments with your bits of wisdom and guidance. Or just babble incoherently and share your thoughts. Whatever. It's all good.

What do those rare individuals who actually don't know what they want to do with their life from the age of 5 (ha!) do when they finally do figure out a "calling" for themselves that is motivating, exciting and inspiring but somehow they keep being asked or invited to do work that is WAY off that path?

Too cryptic?

Here's a hypothetical example. Let's say you go through college with some small voice or "knowing" that keeps reminding you that you love to cook. And in fact, you are actually pretty good in the kitchen. Anything you cook or bake is just amazingly delicious. You have a real knack for it. So, you graduate from culinary school with an advanced degree and start looking for a job as a chef. You start getting all these job offers right and left - BUT none of them are for chefs. In fact, all the offers you keep getting are positions in widget-making, in which you have some skill but not a great deal of proficiency. So, there is one position in particular that you accept because it would benefit a developing country in dire need of widgets and this speaks to your altruistic side. But somehow, no matter how hard you try, it just doesn't click for you.

So what do you do? Now taking calls - operators are standing by.

Posted by Delara at 07:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

This whole Glenbrook North High School students thing is REALLY upsetting me. First of all, it gives a bad rap to the fair town of Northbrook, which, as far as North Shore suburbs go, isn't that bad. Second, who the hell was giving these kids alcohol to drink? And third, what were the junior thinking by subjecting themselves to this nonsense? I have three words for them - Run, Forrest, Run!!!

I can't even turn on the tv because I'm afraid of seeing more of that awful video footage. a la Blair Witch. For that matter, Blair Witch was less frightening. And it's online too - AOL front page. Ack!

All I can say is, it's just sad. Very sad.

Posted by Delara at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Sony has announced its own computer operating system now available on its Vaio computers. Instead of producing the cryptic error messages characteristic of Microsoft Windows, Sony's chairman said, "We intend to capture the high ground by putting a more traditional Eastern face on what has been until now an operating system that reflects Western cultural hegemony."

The chairman went on to give examples of Sony's new error messages to be released with the new operating system:

A file that big?
It might be very useful
But now it is gone.

Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent and reboot.
Order shall return.

Aborted effort.
Close all that you have.
You ask way too much.

Yesterday it worked.
Today it is not working.
Programs are like that.

First snow, then silence.
This thousand-dollar screen dies
so beautifully.

With searching comes loss
and the presence of absence:
"My Novel" not found.

Stay the patient course.
Of little worth is your ire.
The network is down.

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.

Out of memory.
We wish to hold the whole sky,
But we never will.

Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen, mind - both are blank.

(Just in case you get too excited, this is a fictitious news story. I just think it is hilarious!)

Posted by Delara at 10:07 AM | Permalink

Boooo... I've had a bad cold/sore throat/cough for the past week now and let me tell you how much that sucks. I shall spare you any further gory details. Suffice it to say that it sucks.

On a more positive note, I don't have SARS. In case you were worried.

Posted by Delara at 06:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I found this gem while looking through an old notebook.

morning liquid
caramel drink
hot coffee seeping into your belly -
delicious poison

*(and any other coffee-holics)

Posted by Delara at 12:27 PM | Permalink