The pen is sexier than the sword...

For all my creative male friends who were ever picked on for choosing the arts over sports, here's a study that says that artists get the girls!

So maybe I should pay more attention to Louise Hay and the like...

"Research is showing the power of expectations, that they have physical -- not just psychological -- effects on your health."

So perhaps I should be a bit less skeptical of folks like Louise Hay?

Not that I didn't agree that our thoughts affect reality, just that I'm very... cautious... about it. (See my comments in this blog post for commentary on one reason why I'm cautious.)

I know, I know, my partner is reading this and snickering "I-told-you-so" now. :) That's why we make such good business partners, though: when my skepticism borders on pessimism, his optimism keeps it from becoming negative thinking, and when he's so hopeful that he might be about to commit too many resources, I can suggest pitfalls to avoid so that the optimistic outcome can happen.

In other news, as if we needed more difficulties on the home front, first my car died (I believe it's the starter, though one can hope it's only a battery)... THEN last night someone smashed in the passenger side window on the car that's WORKING, to steal a portable CD player worth maybe $20 and some CDs I burned off the computer. Sigh. I hope they enjoy it; my kids already are getting virtually nothing for Christmas this year because moving expenses are so high, and that's not going to help matters any. I will not stress I will not stress I will believe that the money will show up when it has to...

Does it help if I keep saying that to myself? I sure hope so.

And for that matter, had I mentioned here that it looks like not only will the ex be moving, but the kids and I will also be going to an apartment? If I hadn't, well, now you know. :) Not sure the timing on this (although after the vandalism, my thought is "tomorrow would not be too soon") but sometime within the next few months.

However, we did start formal testing on the SAP implementation at work yesterday, and I made it through the first day of testing without any security defects! This almost makes me worry. :)

Ok, maybe I am a pessimist. Except I don't feel like I am. Even when I worry, I do genuinely trust that all will be well. I think maybe I just always expect the happy ending to show up by the skin of its teeth after much turmoil, when you least expect it. Perhaps I've been inspired by the Muse of Plot too often to believe that happy endings can come without some sort of conflict resolution first?

Then again, that IS how we learn...

Finding support where you need it...

As I move into the less-than-three-weeks-to-full-time-single-parenthood countdown, I found this article useful, and am gratified as to how many people I can put in the "emotional support" category. Every day I am aware of how blessed I am to have the supportive friends I have. Thank you all.

Now here's a meme I can get into...

Thanks to Exhausted Mind. :)

The Movie Of Your Life Is A Cult Classic

Quirky, offbeat, and even a little campy - your life appeals to a select few. But if someone's obsessed with you, look out! Your fans are downright freaky. Your best movie matches: Office Space, Showgirls, The Big Lebowski

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

Mindless memes

Your Birthdate: January 18

You are a cohesive force - able to bring many people together for a common cause. You tend to excel in work situations, but you also facilitate a lot of social gatherings too. Beyond being a good leader, you are good at inspiring others. You also keep your powerful emotions in check - you know when to emote and when to repress. Your strength: Emotional maturity beyond your years Your weakness: Wearing yourself down with too many responsibilities Your power color: Crimson red Your power symbol: Snowflake Your power month: September

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

And I just am not sure what to think of this one...

Your Daddy Is Arnold Schwarzenegger

What You Call Him: Big Daddy Why You Love Him: He gives good spankings

Who's Your Daddy?

Who knew?

In a Past Life...

You Were: An Obese Fortune Teller. Where You Lived: South Africa. How You Died: Dysentery.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

And rude comments on THIS are NOT necessary... ;)

You Are Smoked Salmon Pate Soda

Tasting like fish ain't so bad!

What Jones Holiday Soda Are You?

Now, off to work. On time, darnit! :)

Tag - I'm it!

I have been memed by an exhausted mind. Given how exhausted I am lately, this seems oddly appropriate. :)

My mission, which I have chosen to accept:

1. Go into your archives.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Post the fifth sentence (or closest to it).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same thing.

Now, the trick is (a) counting my posts and (b) coming up with 5 other people to tag. :) Hmm...

*saves as draft in order to go count, then returns*

And the sentence is:

Meanwhile, if you feel bleary Monday, here's the mathematical reason why: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4187183.stm

Hey, at least the link is still good!

Now, to tag...

• Cadhla
• Chorus
• Dag

And time to see if anyone else reads this journal (who I know has a blog)... :)

• Wednesday
• Elfwench - since I just heard from her other half that she and the hospital got to be chummy recently, perhaps she could use a distraction...

Well, we didn't end up running the seminar Saturday...

We were ready, though, by golly -- I had the manual written and everything. :) Just didn't have participants. I need to figure out if we mispriced, didn't advertise enough, didn't publicize -long- enough, didn't have effective advertising, or if it was just the November "too-busy-with-the-upcoming-holidays" syndrome. However, we spent the day in a "business plan retreat" and have ideas for the future.

Ok, I can't help it; I'm one of those weird people who -likes- planning stuff like this. Mind you, I love the concept of teaching the classes and getting to do what is, for lack of a better term, my vocation. Even though the classes themselves aren't about spirituality (of course, to me all life is spiritual, but that's my thing. :) ), teaching them is the best way I can think of to carry out what I believe is my mission in life: to help people feel better about themselves. That's what I've enjoyed about creating and leading services at church, and that's what I enjoyed about being a priestess all those years. And jointly, this is our way of trying to make the world a better place: things like the riots in Paris are a very dramatic example of why we think it's important to teach people that they are stronger than their fears, and that at their core they are powerful and empowered beings of love. But turns out I love the whole business planning part of it too: figuring out effective publicity and instructional design and web design and everything else I get to do with this.

Which I guess is what being an "entrepeneurial type" is about, huh?

Final Promo

What masks do we wear in everyday life? What could we achieve if we were free to reveal our real selves? "The No-Limits Life: Unmask Your True Potential" is a hands-on workshop presented by Achievement Engineering, a non-profit National Heritage Foundation, Saturday, November 12, 2005, from 10 AM - 4 PM in the Commons at UUI, 615 W. 43rd St, Indianapolis. The new reduced cost ($49) still includes lunch and a take-home manual. Register today at http://www.achievegrowth.org/nllworkshop.html or 317-536-3795.

Shameless plug for aroundindy.com

We are the featured submitted event today, woohoo! This should be helpful, especially if a lot of people are like me and hit the site on Friday to find out what's going on over the weekend.

And I'll be happy to give the site a shameless plug because I do indeed use it regularly; that's how I knew to post the workshop there. I found it pretty much by accident (ok, via Google search) about six months ago and have used it regularly for both "how do I entertain the kids this weekend?" and "I need a different date venue tonight." :) It really is a great service: it's MUCH easier to find things on than, say, the IndyStar calendar. (I can almost never find the calendar at all on their website. Poor navigation design, for sure!) And while Nuvo and Intake have great calendars for things like live music, they rarely have child-friendly events posted. This site has helped me find haunted houses, outdoor festivals, and reminded me of things that are free or cheap child entertainment, like the Civil War museum , because I can never think of places like that when the kids are in their "Do something with me please please please?" nagging stage. :)

So if you're bored and looking for something to do, visit http://www.aroundindy.com. :)

(More posting later about why I'm teaching the classes, vocation, and the like. But now I must do my paying job, really...)

Happy Birthday JK (if you're out there...)

My (first) ex is having a significant birthday today. I'll be polite and not say which milestone it is. :) However, I can't find his e-mail address, and I've tried several times this month to call him and only get a busy signal, so I've got to think he's on dialup to the internet 24/7/365. Not that this surprises me. :)

So, if'n you happen to read this post, JK, happy (*ahem*-th) birthday, and either disconnect your computer once in a while or e-mail me with your address again!

Advertising everywhere, so how does one get a response?

Our ad is on the back page of Nuvo today, and our listing is on the calendar at nuvo.net. We're also posted at

http://www.wibc.com/community
http://www.radionow931.com/community
http://www.b1057.com/community
http://www.hankfm.com/events/community.aspx
http://www.aroundindy.com
http://www.theindychannel.com

as well, and maybe other places. So why am I paranoid that we're not going to get any signups?