Sensory Overload

I can't even imagine what it would be like to have ADD. Lately there has been so much that I have wanted to write about that I have found it difficult to focus on any one thing.

It makes me think of what my mom recently told me about my beloved 80-year-old aunt. She gets emotionally overwhelmed watching the news because current world events are so distressing. It leaves me wanting to make the world a better place because this woman deserves one.

For me, it's not so bleak. There are the relationship quirks that I recently noticed in my b/f that I've been dying to write about, but I am still trying to keep our relationship out of Misc Karen because I know he's a private person. All the truly interesting stuff about work can't be mentioned because heaven help they find it and fire me. Politics always interest me, but I don't really want to pigeonhole myself. Besides, writing about Roberts, Rove, or anything else in the news right now seems a bit obvious. I don't really want to write about anything until I have some insight.

All this stuff bubbling, but none of it edible. Maybe for now, it will just have to be enough to let you know that I'm trying to work my way through it rather than waiting until I've got something good or have forced something mediocre.

Reward

I really need to knock off the cheap jokes about my boss. Today, I was surprised to find out about bonuses. I got a check that was bigger than my paycheck. To celebrate, the b/f and I went out for an early dinner, and I think I am finally going to get some new glasses. A shopping spree in general. The b/f thought I should put all it towards my credit card. I probably will, I'll just match it in new charges.

Bribery

The summer sidewalk sale is in season. Working in retail means I get to take part in the, uh, delightful tradition again. In a heatwave no less. My solution? I took popsicles and ice cream sandwiches to work. No one noticed that I didn't haul in the merchandise at the end of the day.

Speechless

Well, not quite.

As you can see, I have outgrown the template cocoon, thanks to the help of the talented Jen. Jen has asked me to inform you that we are now in the debug phase of the new design, so everything should be settling into normal soon. The sidebar should be filling out nicely soon and there are lots of fun hidden links with more in the works.

I give up a night of reading the new Harry Potter book, that's how much I love this blog. Hope everyone is enjoying the changes as much as I am and hope you are having a good weekend.

Captain, I Think We Have a Problem

Well, the regulars have figured it out. Heck, anyone familiar with Blogger has figured it out. Misc Karen is still in template design, and the new one will not be up and running today as predicted. I've seen what Jen has done and it looks GREAT! Jen and I were on Yahoo messenger last night working (actually she was working, I was blabbing on and on) on the new design. The new target is early next week. So now it's like Christmas is a week long.

Dear Karl,

As my brother prepares for active military service, I have one request. Don't ever talk to anyone in the press about my brother or anyone he serves with. How about not talking about the military in general. Your demonstrated lack of judgment makes it clear that you don't know how to keep a secret.

Thanks!

Misc Karen

Sorrow

For the past 8 months, I have been involved with the founding of a community education non-profit. I'd say that I was on the Board of Directors, but the program is so much in it's infancy that there aren't even by-laws.

Two months ago, some new people came on board in our effort to develop our board of directors, and I have been miserable ever since. They don't like the name and want a different one (like it didn't take us two months to decide a name to begin with.) One of them rewrote the mission statement, including a phrase to which I have strong objections. The same person argued that the idea of "everyone has a voice" is inherent to the group wanted to have a large board of directors filled with the wealthy. I jokingly think of it as a Bush democracy.

Last night, I received the agenda for today's meeting and the latest draft of the by-laws and I wanted to cry. I was on the phone with Jen, who agreed that it was time for me to bail. She didn't even want me to use the excuse of transportation issues. She'll be disappointed to know that I only excused myself for the next few meetings.

Then I find out the person who got the ball rolling is moving out-of-state by month's end and is resigning. I am soooo outta there and the only question is how many bridges to burn on the way out. It makes me want to cry because this organization could have been something I was proud to be involved with.

The Key to Sneak Peaks at Gifts Is Cutting the Tape

This is the advice my brother gave me when checking out what is in those wrapped Christmas gifts. Just rewrap and match the new tape piece over the old one. (Oddly, this is not biggest trouble my brother has gotten in with Christmas gifts.)

Luckily, for Christmas in July, I didn't have to cut any tape. Jen sent me some of the artwork for her new design of my blog. "I saw the side bar! I saw the side bar!" (Done in a very singsong voice.) I am giddy. I am ecstatic! I am on the verge of hyper, and I rarely get hyper. I almost guarranty that once the design is up and running, I will call friends and family to tell them about it. Well, there will be those relatives who will never know about the blog so that I will have the option of writing about them uncensored.

At the request of Jen, I have been advised to warn you that there may be some issues on Wednesday and Thursday while she works out the kinks. In the meantime, I am entertaining suggestions on what I can do to thank Jen.

Coming to a Blog Near Me

Thanks to my good buddy (and talented web designer) Jen, there is a very good possibility that by the end of next week, I will have a new design for Misc Karen. Soon, a blog template will no longer scream to the world, "Misc Karen has no valid web skills." I might even win more Battles of the Blog over at BlogExplosion. This year, Christmas comes in July.

Just Say "No!" to the Magnetic Ribbon

My family is on a mission. Rid the world of the yellow magnetic "Support Our Troops" ribbons.

"Why," you may ask, "would a family with a member in the military oppose such wonderful support for our troops?"

How many people do you know, who have these ribbons, do something to support the troops and their families other than a)saying they support them and b)putting a magnetic ribbon on their vehicle?

These ribbons are extremely popular here in our area of the midwest. People will have several of them on a single vehicle. I about gagged when someone had one that was actually for an NFL team. My mom went to the bank our family has used for years and there was a display of them (the ones that actually were for the troops) that were being sold on behalf of the local chapter of a non-profit. My mom inquired about where the proceeds were going. The local softball program.

There's nothing like hitting people up for their "support" of the troops to support something other than the troops. I don't find these nearly as suspicious as the ribbons that I see at Wal-Mart that I suspect only support the supplier's profits. I find it cheap to use the military, especially during a time of war.

The thing that really gets us, the member in the military included, is the idea of people displaying a ribbon and it absolves of them of having to do anything else because they "support our troops." These same people don't have a clue about military pay, veterans affair benefits, or the practice of stop loss.

As my brother prepares for activation, my mother and I contemplate what we will do while he is gone. The nearest family support group is over a two hour drive away for my mother. Not exactly feasible (therefore not exactly supportive) for my family. I have been my mom to start her own support group that meets locally, and she has finally agreed. She's starting a group with the idea that they can do a lot, and they can. We are talking way more than care packages, though there will definitely be care packages.

So this 4th of July, I encourage you to ditch any ribbons that might be lurking on your vehicle and do something more meaningful for veterans/members of the military. Ask family members if there is anything you can do for them (such as babysit, mow a lawn, chip in money/goods for a care package) or simple ask them how they and those serving are doing. It's amazing how people will act like a person serving overseas has ceased to exist until they return. Study an issue that affects them and write to your elected officials about it. Heck, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Your mind is your limit.

Whatever you do, don't buy a magnetic ribbon.