Remabulous

Comic Relief on Deadly Shopping Friday

I spent this Friday morning sleeping in. It felt rather rebellious to sleep through all the crazy sales that started, in some cases, as early as 4am. What a treat to have a relaxing morning and enjoy some salmon and bagels at my favorite spot in Baltimore, Greg's bagels. I've written about it before, so if you need to know why I love Greg's, please read my old post.

This weekend, I am enjoying having some fun time with my family. That has increasingly become a time when my brother and I swap funny websites we have found. His latest discovery, Fail Blog, is a goldmine. So many times we are afraid to move forward on projects and ideas for fear of failing. I think a trip to this blog will assure you that you are safe from disaster at the level these events have created. Here is my favorite that I found this morning:
Have a fun weekend, and remember to relax and enjoy some time to recharge!

Thankful about getting to work.

Thanksgiving is always a treat. Food, escaping from everyday routine, time with family, and just a break to sit, read, and think has been a wonderful treat this year. And there is a lot more to think about after recent events. My recent reading selection has been inspiring me to think more deeply about the meaning of work in both a difficult economy and in the wake of an election many of us were more involved in than any time previously.

It seems clear: all of us want to work towards a better world and a new definition of what working means. The question is: how do we start?

image: Caroline Donahue for Remabulous.

Ask Remabulous: Help! How do I do what I love when I have a full time job?

This week's Ask Remabulous question comes from an informal survey I took at Book Soup: what issue is driving you nuts that you'd like me to address in my column this week?

It seemed like there was something in the air, since everyone centered on the same set of issues. Here's their combined question:

"Dear Ask Remabulous,

How do I find some kind of balance with the fact that I am a writer and need and want to be writing while at the same time I need to work at a job (or jobs!) 40 hours or more a week in order to pay my bills. Help! How do I write when I spend all my time working in order to survive being a writer? This is not working for me... please help me find another way to do this!

Sincecrely,
Sultry on Sunset" (they requested this name specifically- I love it)

Such a great question! Here are my thoughts...

image: estherase via flickr.

5 Planning tools that will change your life in 2009.

As we get into late (Late???!!!) November, the world starts to feel like a giant to-do list for the upcoming year. As you start to make your goals for 2009, please don't overlook ways to make that process easier, and more fun. The items below are my top must-haves for the entrepreneur's planning toolbox...

image: "Day 092/366 To-Do List" by Great Beyond.

Staying open to treasures nearby.

This past weekend was a busy one. I finished a Ladies Who Launch incubator (more on that below), went to the Louise Bourgeois show at MOCA, screened a movie in the outdoor theater, made more homemade marmalade than I have ever seen in one place, participated in a clothing swap, and hosted an impromptu get-together at my place. Wow. All the while reading a draft of a book we are discussing in my last novel writing class tonight and trying- and mostly succeeding- in keeping up with my word count for NaNoWriMo.
This, even for me, was a big weekend. There was a time when I was so introverted that after a week of being a therapist years ago I'd need an entire day in bed with only books and cats around to recover. Every single week. And now I love the flow of people that life brings me on a regular basis. I started thinking today about how that change occured.

images: marmalade: amandabhslater; left, "Arch of Hysteria" -Louise Bourgeois.

Insanity.

Please excuse the radio silence the last few days... The breakup, apartment hunt, moving out then moving in process, the election stress and then relief, my car dying and needing to be sold and replaced is catching up to me. It's been Mr. Toad's wild ride since July. Am taking a couple days to rest and focus on the word count for NaNoWriMo which I am determined to finish for a third year in a row.

Plus, Artie Lange was scheduled for an event at Book Soup today and I spent my entire 8 hour shift yelling into the phone "Yes we've sold out," "No really- sold out." "Sold out for real," and finally, "Sold out forever."

And even though I cried three times in the dealer yesterday dropping off my old car, the new one is pretty magnificent. Driving it was the nicest part of my day. Except maybe the banana nut muffin my friend Ruth brought in this morning. That was delightful, too.

See you all on Monday. I'm off to sip single malt and type.

Ask Remabulous is back: How can you get the most out of coaching?

OK. I've gotten my head out of the clouds of the election and am back to the task at hand. This week's question comes from a member of the amazing incubator from Ladies Who Launch that I have been participating in for the last three weeks. I'm so sad it ends this Saturday. If you are a woman with a business or an idea for one, definitely check out this incredible resource. Here's how to find an incubator near you.

But on to our question:

Dear Ask Remabulous,

What is the best way to make sure you are getting what you can from a coaching session?  What should you ask the coach to gain a comfort level of their experience and knowledge in coaching for your needs?

Thanks!

Lady Who's Launching.

Dear Lady Who's Launching,

Thanks so much for your question. This is an important one, because a lot of people don't understand what qualifications a coach needs to have and what the advantages and purpose of good coaching is. I'll answer both of your questions below:

(I know this image, by phauly, is a bit out of focus, but it was too funny not to use.)

Moving ahead in uncertain times together.

I know I've been talking about politics more often than I usually do on this site. But they are out there in a much bigger way than usual, and I can't help but see how the landscape of the dreamers and those who are dealing with politics is getting closer and closer. Perhaps this is a good thing.

I am disappointed, as are many people, in California. That my state would pass such a narrow minded proposition that excludes basic rights including hospital visitation between partners is appalling. But i know this isn't the end of the story. It's just a big raincloud hovering over our joy about the victory for Obama.

image: prop 8 protest in san francisco by raquella.

I think we'd all like to hear it again.

Also very cool: the New York Times version is seamless (vs in two parts as the youtbu version above) and has a transcript along the side so you don't miss a word.

Pride.

Never never never have I ever been so proud of us. The past few years, I have been ashamed to say I am American. I can only hope that, when all the votes are counted up, California makes me proud too. If gay people cannot say "yes we can" to marriage, then we still have more to do. But listening to PRESIDENT elect Obama speak tonight, I do believe that we can do it.

This changes everything. I am so grateful to see it. And so grateful to have been part of it. Thank you to everyone who believed and who made this possible. This changes the world for all of us. Let's keep this going until anyone can imagine being president without concern for culture, race, gender, sexual orientation....

We can continue. We've made an amazing start. I can't wait to wake up in the morning and know it's real all over again. Goodnight.

image: mirror uk.