Ramblings

How NOT to multitask

I have not been updating my blog because of mutitasking and not prioritizing stuff. I'm trying to not to beat myself up about it. Here's an article on it from a blog I frequently read. So much is appropriate for the times. It's crazy devices, social networking, and just internet stuff. It's fun, but I need to find the middle way.

http://zenhabits.net/2007/02/how-not-to-multitask-work-simpler-and/

May desktop wallpaper

We were on two programs - one in St. Martin and one in Palm Beach. Had a blast. I posted our desktop wallpaper an wanted to share the photos taken on those programs. Here's the link: http://www.eyeoftheislands.com/RLSGalleries/May09/May09.html If you want to be added to our mailing list, please let me know by commenting on this post. I'm happy to share!

Dinner tonight

Even though I'm so not a vegetarian, I frequently enjoy a vegetarian meal. Tonight was one of those nights.

Saturday is my Farmer's Market day. I love going there in spite of the crowds. There was a woman selling sweet corn. She said they were experimenting with a new kind. I bought a bag of 12 ears for $6. The Kona abalone people were grilling abalone so I couldn't resist trying two small grilled morsels for $5. They were delicious...I wished I had a glass of champagne to go with. I replenished my supply of salsa with spicy pickles from Andy, purchased beeyooteeful tomatoes and beets with the tops, of course.

So back to the vegetarian meal. I always have tons of food in the fridge and in the pantry. If there is a crisis, drop by and we can feed the masses. I looked for the oldest living thing and it was a half head of red cabbage. Perfect!

I sauteed the cabbage with pear vinegar and a bit of cinnamon sugar (leftover from a friend's major snicker doodle event). Then added some chopped and roasted hazelnuts. If you follow me on Facebook, you might have seen the mobile photo of our radishes. I chopped some up and added them with salt and pepper. Topped that off with crumbled goat cheese. Kris loves red cabbage so I knew he'd like this dish.

The corn on the cob was left in the husks and roasted in a 350 degree oven for thirty minutes. They were the sweetest, most tender corn kernels ever. Loved that with a little butter and chile salt. Yimmy!

Blog, Facebook, Twitter

I've truly missed blogging. I feel like someone who had an intense affair, but is longing for the deeper, more meaningful relationship.

Facebook has been so much fun. I've connected with people I've been out of touch with and deepened other connections. It's not something I would ever give up, but I believe the new interface makes it harder to connect with friends and family that matter. Instead, a lot of superfluous and distracting stuff appears. On the iPhone app, I've been informed of a comment and then have not been able to find it to respond.

Twitter, on the other hand, is the place I think has potential. I haven't found it yet. I like that I can update on Twitter and it appears on Facebook so that I don't have to enter stuff twice. I follow some famous and not so famous and actually enjoy the 140 character limitation.

The bottom line is that, although I love Facebook and Twitter can be fun, I miss blogging and I like that I can go back there and see how things were at certain times in my life. I'm going to try to put some energy back into blogging and see how it goes.

Recession blues

This morning a client requested revised pricing and informed me that we are in a recession. I posted a plea for help on Facebook and a friend wrote a letter for me to send. It's too good for just Facebook so I thought I'd share it here. In case you don't know, we have three dogs.

"Dear Client,

On behalf of Kris, myself and the Eye of the Islands Ohana, we are pleased to extend our 2009 Economic Recession Rates.

As you are aware, we at Eye of the Islands pride ourselves on our personal touch, attention to detail, and dedication to all of our shoots. And, in order to continue business we have released our human staff and have turned to employing our "children."

Photography Fees -

Candids:
- Mocha with camera tied around her collar - $50.00

- Takes GREAT ankle and knee shots. ALSO, first time ever, get the condition of your function room carpet!

-Latte with camera harnest on back - $100.00

- Harnest allows for higher point of view. WONDEFUL chest and boob shots.

Couples Photos:
- Kris will hand his camera over to you - $50.00
- You deal with him always behind you making sure you don't drop it while balancing your cocktails and boss figuring out where he should be, etc.

Mahalo,
Eye of the Islands"

Social Networking

While my mom and dog were ill I started spending time on Facebook. It started with Twitter and I found it was not satisfying...not interactive. Then I checked out LinkedIn. It's made for "professionals" and I've found it boring.

Then there is Facebook. I've become an addict. One of my peeps calls it Crackbook. It's fun, it's fast. You can communicate what you're doing to a lot of people all at once and they can respond in many ways if they choose to. I've added friends that I haven't seen in ages, friends that I see all the time, and people I work with. They're in China, Italy, Mexico, Georgia,  and next door. With some of the people I work with, Facebook, has put them in the cubicle next door. So that makes work fun.

I'm still using Twitter. It's great for news and information. I don't particular care about one-liners that tell you where people you follow are every moment. But thoughts from people I respect like John Maeda, president of the Rhode Island School of Design. I also follow the CEO of Zappos, whose company was named among one of the 100 Best Places to Work by Fortune Magazine. Last week he was twittering from Washington D.C. His twits often link to blog posts.

Here's an exerpt from his post on Twitter and how it has helped him grow personally. I thought the post was interesting.

"For me, it comes down to these 4 things:

1. Transparency & Values: Twitter constantly reminds me of who I want to be, and what I want Zappos to stand for
2. Reframing Reality: Twitter encourages me to search for ways to view reality in a funnier and/or more positive way
3. Helping Others: Twitter makes me think about how to make a positive impact on other people's lives
4. Gratitude: Twitter helps me notice and appreciate the little things in life"

The jury is out on LinkedIn. More of my clients are on it than I thought, but it's just not fun. Life is too short to spend time on something that's not fun.

Happy Birthday, Kris!

Today is Kris' 50th Birthday. He dropped me off at the KCC Farmer's Market and did a run. I got him an iPhone, a Garmin GPS thingy for running and slippahs.

I've been marinating a roast to make sauerbraten tonight. He loves German food. For sides, we're having potato pancakes and red cabbage.

Many years ago a German girl I worked with gave me the recipe and I've kept it. It's perfect.

To Mom and Dad with Love...Thank you

On Friday, January 9, Mom passed away peacefully at home. I'm sure Dad was waiting. He always patiently waited for her. Your world shifts when both of your parents are gone. I miss them immensely.
This is a photograph my brother, Keith took on an Alaskan Cruise we took for their 50th wedding anniversary in 2002. I digitally painted it and used it on a cover for a family album.

Another book - "Tell Me Were it Hurts"

I just love this book. It's hard to believe it's written by a surgeon. A surgeon...a scientist... 

Here's a quote from the book describing a client who is worried about his dog: "He is holding it together but only just, proud, helpless, and completely vulnerable, tethered by that wonderful and inconceivably powerful bond to the animal in his life."

This has so much heart and humor.  I've often wished that my vet was my doctor!

Happiness for 2009

Watched Oprah...I never watch Oprah. Her guest was Robert Holden from the Happiness Project.

First, take the Happiness Test.  I scored a 28...and I'm not sure that I'm that happy as defined by them.  I would think that definition would be much more complicated than a simple test like this.

I was also so turned off by the fact that the entire site is selling stuff - books, CD's, seminars...on happiness. Yikes! Are we really to think that we can purchase happiness?

Nevertheless, the question is an important one to consider. How satisfied are you? Below are the five points that the test asks you to rate.

1. In most ways, my life is close to ideal.

2. The conditions of my life are excellent.

3. I am satisfied with my life.

4. So far I have gotten the important things I want in life.
5. If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.

I would love to hear what other people think.

HAPPY New Year!!!