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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Time to say goodbye, for now.

Friends, and few followers,

I've come to a fork in the road...although the direction I will take is pretty certain. It's just a matter of time. Within the past year or so I've found myself aiming and failing, dreaming and forgetting, thinking and finding myself dumbfounded in relation to blogging, and writing. It's this constant battle that has caused me to take some time to pause and think. What are my long-term goals, does this blog fit into that? Does this blog need to be about more than a forum of self-interest and self-expression? Should I be writing for an audience, or myself...can can this blog be fitting for both? How often should I be writing? If I can't write as much as I'd like to, is it worth doing at all? Will my readers (or prospective readers) lose interest if I don't meet their expectations? What are their expectations? Am I losing readers/followers/friends/etc. by being inconsistent with this blog? Do I enjoy this? Do I even enjoy writing? Do I continue this blog without knowing all of these questions?

I don't know the answer to all of these questions. But, I do know the answer to the last one. I know that I need to have at least some of these things figured out before I continue blogging. For me to continue, to spend time on, to enjoy writing...I need to know my audience better. I don't have a clear image of what audience this is because I haven't had a clear purpose for this blog, besides creative expression. I think (I repeat, 'I think') the people who stumble upon my blog are either friends (who just happen to like me), or people searching for a blog on a certain topic. If returning, both may continue to search/read/follow my blog, maybe anticipate certain content related  to whatever they search for, but both may equally find themselves disappointed. This, simply because you won't find continuity here...not yet.

Until some of these questions have answers, I don't have a lot of motivation to continue writing in this format. I know I will again, someday. But, that may not be for a while.

I look forward to the day when there's a clear purpose behind every word, post, article, thought, comment in my writing. When a reader reads something on my blog and can return, expecting the same quality, consistent content they know to be there. Something better lies ahead.

Thank you for remaining, thank you for listening.


This blog may remain idle for a while, but will be removed in time. If you have any questions, or wish to be contacted if, and when, a new forum is published please comment here or email me @ sayre{dot}sheena{at}.gmail[dot]com.

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Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy V-day!!

I don't even get to see my dear D until late tonight...but, I just
received these! Shari's Berries!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Making my last resolution count

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise. Something I've been wanting to move myself to do since I got married. I've gradually seen myself get less in shape and 2011 is the year to change that. Unlike my other three resolutions that haven't panned out the way I've planned, this resolution is going to stick. I have gradually picked up exercising on a more routine basis, with the help of friends, my husband, and my freer schedule. More emphasis on the first two, less on that last one. I'm only slightly less crazy because graduate classes haven't picked up again for the spring semester.

However, I've found the key to my success (knock-knock): va-ri-e-ty. Variety. Not only am I exercising in the ajoining gym to my work a couple times a week with the hubby, but I'm mixing it up with volleyball, walking, exercise videos (P90X for your information) and even a one-time two hour cross country trek across a frigid lake with blistering winds (not going to do that again anytime soon).

Now, three weeks into January and I'm feeling as great as I did on my wedding day, with bikini season still over four months away. Ha.

Here's to a healthier 2011!




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Thursday, January 20, 2011

2011 resolutions, throwing in the towel...

2011 resolutions...maybe not the best idea (or well thought out?). Although I've failed to update you immediately on my first and second resolutions, Make Bed More Often and Floss Teeth More Regularly, they both have flopped on their bellies. Or, at least I have at maintaining them. (My last two resolutions are still a work in progress...more on those later.)

I've realized that I'm a little happier in the morning when I don't feel stressed to make my bed in the morning. And, so far in 2011 I've almost always found running out the door in a hurry, and have forgotten to do it. So, make bed everyday to create peaceful atmosphere that I only see at night anyways, or retain sanity while getting ready for work? I think the later is more important for me, for now. Maybe making the bed on the weekends is a more realistic goal for the hubs and I, you know, since we can actually see our home in the daylight.

That flossing the teeth more regularly resolution? Probably not a good one to give up on, but I just think having a resolution to do it has made the whole thing that more daunting. I love my gums and teeth, and so does my dentist. That's the motivation to keep them healthy. With that, all I've needed to do was find a better time to maintain the routine. In the morning, on the way to work as the hubby drives, or at work. Done.

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Monday, January 17, 2011

Floss teeth more regularly



See this lowly image of my dental floss...and how almost all the lettering is worn off? Well, that's because resolution number 2 is really long over due - you can see how this dental floss has definitely out-lived its expected use date.

See my 2011 resolutions here.


Here's to brighter, cleaner teeth and a happier smile in 2011!

Anyone else forgo their good teeth cleaning techniques somewhere in 2010, and now trying to redeem them in 2011?


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Friday, January 14, 2011

Sleeping more = a lesser need for coffee

Okay, so even though I may need less coffee in the morning...that doesn't really mean I've lessened my intake. My relationship with Caribou coffee is still going strong. My sleeping habits are starting to improve...although not as ambitiously or as fast as I thought they might.


My third 2011 resolution: Sleep More.


Getting myself to bed earlier...harder than I thought it would be. I actually tried setting an alarm for myself at 10:30 p.m. to tell myself to go to bed at that time. How many times has that been successful? Zero. Instead, usually while far away from my phone, I can hear a little tune that ceases to stop playing until I get up and turn the sound off. Not only has it resulted in annoyance of the hubs, but it's become a little teaser that has consistently reminded  me that I'm failing. 


As of today, the little "Go To Bed" reminder I've listened to night after night...is no longer  (Insert me cackling dr. evil like).


Although the alarm clock reminder didn't work for me, I have consistently gone to bed earlier than my old normal too-late-to-function-right bed time.  And, I'm still planning on working gradually to obtain grandiose (okay, normal) amounts of sleep, and to make it happen consistently.


Getting to bed earlier in 2011, or not?


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Friday, January 7, 2011

Resolution numero uno

My first resolution for 2011 is to "make my bed daily more often." For more information on my 2011 resolutions, visit Resolution is the buzz word.

So far, so good...I've managed to make my bed almost every day this past week, minus one relapse on Monday. But who is all that motivated on the Monday after the holiday season? Nope, not me.

It went from looking like this every non-visitor day...

My picture quality is a little off due to our limited morning light. (See the sheets pulled all the way to one side? That's me. Oops!)

And the bed currently looks like this...

The coloring in this photo is more true to the actual colors of the IKEA bedspread (can't seem to find it online anymore) and pillows. (The rug is also from IKEA, but the camera didn't pick up enough light to illuminate it.)
My bed's not throuroughly straightened, or perfectly laid out in any way. But getting my pillows and blankets off the floor sure helps me feel better about walking around the room. And it makes me feel more at rest when crawling into my cold sheets.

How are you doing with your 2011 resolutions so far?

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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Resolution is the buzz word

I’ve been planning on mentioning my resolutions to you since sometime late December, but have had a hard time getting to it. Almost every blog I read regularly has already had their take on resolutions; whether they are for or against, have one or many, or none at all. Reading all the buzz on everyone’s resolutions has kind of dampened my motivation and efforts toward them.

You see, I try to make resolutions every year. But every year, I end up forgetting what I aimed to be resolute on. With my frequent use of Google Docs, I decided I would type out my 2011 resolutions there to keep track of them. And, by putting them out here in the blogosphere, more accountability (I hope).

So…copy and paste, work your magic…Bam! Here they are:

1. Make Bed Daily More Often
Reward to Self: Peaceful Surrounding

2. Floss Teeth More Regularly

3. Sleep More
Preferably at least 7.5 to 8 hrs each night

4. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
Reward to Self: Wine/Ice Cream

I thought about tangible things that I could accomplish, instead of big lofty goals that would be too broad to truly reach. I also thought about my lazy tendencies, knowing that I would mess up at times, forgoing my resolutions all together for maybe a week, day or month. But, who says that the first day of 2011 means change needs to happen all at once? I look at it as a starting point; a day of rejuvenated energy and anticipation for what all may be possible in the year to come.

In fact, two days after I enacted my 2011 resolutions, I failed to follow the first one on my list…hence the wording change.

The second has to do more with what I have failed to do lately. I used to be that girl who flossed her teeth religiously every night. However, since I’ve been married, a lot of my good habits have been pushed aside, including the regularity of flossing.

And my lack of flossing regularly really is a result of the third resolution on my list…I don’t get as much sleep as I should. Again, since I’ve been married, I’ve conformed to my husband’s habit of going to bed late and waking up early. Which literally turns me into a walking zombie at night (okay, not really literally) I’m a girl who fully appreciates at least eight hours of beauty sleep. My morning person only reveals itself with this much sleep, seriously. Otherwise, stay clear until I get my morning brew.

My fourth resolution has been a work in progress. I really just want to exercise more routinely. When I’m in classes two nights a week and pressed for deadlines, the first thing that usually gets skipped in my schedule is exercising. It’s left me out of shape and tired, and I’m motivated to create some variety, get interested and push myself. And how will this be sustainable, since I’m so quick to opt out of exercising? My daily intake of vino (and possibly my favorite dessert…) go out the door instead. No vino or ice cream if I don’t stick with exercising.

There you have it; my 2011 resolutions. I’ll try to keep you updated as I work through these obsticles.Here’s to finding accountability and pushing ones goals into print.
Cheers!

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