"Who is your Santa?" he asked.....

Hustle and bustle indeed, but I haven't really got caught up in it too much yet this year. Oh I'm decorated, and actually mostly done shopping, but I mean the rat race that begins in November and doesn't end until after the after-Christmas sales. Nice and easy is the theme of my 2011 Holiday Season.

I was out being an elf this weekend, by myself mind you, because I get so much more done when I'm alone. I was making the usual display of myself singing along to Christmas music in the car, with Starbucks coffee in a cup by my side, and not really minding the cold temps and rain coming down.

After Starbucks my first stop was the local Ace Hardware Store. I love going in there during the holidays, they have cool things I don't find anywhere else. I was on the hunt for a specific sized light bulb but I looked around for a while before I finally had to ask for help, there are over 100 kinds of light bulbs in there, did you know? Now, you may think I'm making this up, but the man that helped me could of been St.Nick himself. I know that sounds cliche at this time of year, but seriously, he even had the glasses. He was very helpful, he lead me to what I needed, then lead me to checkout. As he was ringing me up, I noticed he smiled with his eyes, he was quite infectious. He asked me the simplest question. "Who is your Santa Claus this year, little lady?" he asked, as the register totalled my purchase.
There are few times that I have ever been asked something where I had to pause before I replied because I didn't know how to answer. I finally said, "Well, Santa Claus himself of course. He's real you know" He laughed and gave me a candy cane as I left, saying Merry Christmas to him.

I left the parking lot, windshield wipers at full speed and Christmas music playing, to head for the next destination. At the stoplight, I fell into deep thought about what he asked. "Who....is my Santa Claus"

I've been thinking about this for a few days.

My Santa Claus comes in many forms. The friend that absolutely did not leave my side when I had surgery the day before Thanksgiving, who stayed right there with me the whole time to make sure I wouldn't wake up and not recognize someone in the room. The countless friends offering help of all kinds during recovery. Anything from a Thanksgiving feast delivered, to chauffering, cleaning, shopping, and just talking. The constant phone calls and text messages, emails, asking how I was doing. Sounds like Santa to me.

The people who care for sick kids in the hospital during the holidays, not only making sure the Christmas spirit stays alive inside the hospital, but also inside the families hearts and minds, as they struggle to learn that their child may not get to come home for Christmas this year.

The coworkers who pitch in without asking, to take up slack for anyone that is missing from the office for a while. I may have jokingly made fun a time or two about these people, but seriously, they're all like my second family. I love them. And they're my Santa too.

The soon to be 18 year old boy that while it may not seem cool to his friends, wants to visit people in a nursing home around the holidays, in case they don't have family. If that isn't Santa, I don't know who is.

The cute (oh well okay, yes I said it) guy at Tom Thumb that always smiles at me when I come in, asking how my weekend is going, if I want any Starbucks (because he knows my love) and then when I can't get something to ring up that I KNOW isn't two dollars, I suddenly receive "help" from him, paying a dollar for something worth way more I'm quite sure, with him always saying, "don't worry about it, I'm a manager, see?" as he points to his name tag with credentials. (lol I really do laugh out loud when he does this)
HE is my Santa.

The man that hurries to my car to hold an umbrella over my head as rain pours down while I frantically try to move bags from cart to trunk. Yep. Santa.

The doctor that removed cancer not once, but twice from my beautiful cousins body. I love this Santa. LOVE.him.

People that make me laugh out loud on a daily basis, with either a tweet, a facebook post, an email, or "live" in person. I love to laugh, so if you can easily make that happen, you're my Santa too.

The sister that welcomes our entire family to her home in Florida, for Christmas. Oh that brave soul. She's a Santa for sure.

So let's rewind this movie, I'm back in Ace Hardware. At the counter, checking out with "Nick"/ (I've dubbed him Nick, you know why).
"Who is your Santa Claus this year, little lady?" he asked.

"I don't know if I can name all of them, how much time do you have?"

I hope your December has started off with greatness, and you're happy, and excited about Christmas and the New Year. Sit down at the end of the day, relax. Don't rush it. Just.....enjoy it.

Happy Holidays to you and your family!
See you soon,
Tiffany

PS my family is having the traditional pancake breakfast on Christmas morning this year, with Mimosas of course. Guess who gets to make said pancakes. =) What are YOU having?

I love this music. I think someone with this gift may be a Santa too.

Whatever you have on your list....I'm glad you have it

I was driving down my street last night at dusk, and noticed the neighbors have begun putting their Christmas Lights up. The sparkly little lights were saying hello as I drove past, and I will share with you, proudly, that I loved it. The promise of the holidays around the corner, I thought "you GO friends! go ahead and start putting them up". Many people are disillusioned with Halloween running into Christmas at topspeed, and I totally understand. I want to keep them separate too. I just feel a calm come over me, when I look at Christmas lights, and it's cold outside, and darkness is drawing.

I don't know why my favorite four months of the year have to be the ones that go by so quickly. Why can't August, the hottest month in North Texas, be the one with such speed? ah well. I find myself slowing down a little, or trying to anyway, at the end of the year, in my attempts to slow the passing of time.

I've been seeing quite a few status updates in Social Media  lately about what people are thankful for, with Thanksgiving around the corner. I haven't really participated in this trend, because all of the "goes-without-saying" things come to mind. Aren't we all thankful for good health, family, friends, our jobs with benefits (hopefully), roofs over our heads.....?

I decided to make my own personal list here.

1: Charlie Brown and Snoopy
Come ON, they really know how to have a "feast". Buttered toast, popcorn, jelly-beans....
2: My Aunt Janes homemade noodles. A staple at my extended familys Thanksgiving table. When I can't be in Missouri with my family, I make my own. But I have to say, they seem to fall slightly short of Janes. I keep trying though.
3: A fireplace in my home. It's nothing short of worship, I love using it.
4: My cell phone. Social media....texting.....I can say Happy Thanksgiving very quickly to those I can't be with on the holiday.
5: FOOTBALL. You would think I would have put this one first, but I like it in the middle. Go Chiefs!
6: Friends that want to take care of me if I'm sick or recuperating, can't have too many of those.
7: Ocean-front Christmas plans with family
8: My coffee bean grinder. Although it's an obnoxious sound so early in the morning, it makes for one fresh cup of coffee I tell you.
9: Our family and friends in the military that are overseas and get to come home soon. And....the sacrifice of those friends that will never come home.
10: Talented people that inspire. Photographers, Artists, Poets, Graphic Designers, Authors, Musicians.....all of them make the world go round....

Whatever you have on your list, whether it's something miniscule or large as life, I'm glad you have it.

And I'm thankful you stopped by to read mine.

Here's the to beginning of a fabulous holiday week! (I always count Friday evening as the start of anything, don't you?)

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS I won't be able to cook on Thanksgiving morning this year. But I think for you, homemade cinnamon rolls are in order. Yes?

In Review: The Help

"All I'm saying is, kindness don't have no boundaries"

Oh this book. I almost don't want to see the movie. How can it possibly live up to this well-written, page-turning, unfolding story of the songs of the south. I say songs of the south as though they were eloquent, full of melody and promise. If anyone knows even a sliver of history of these times, it wasn't what I would call a melody. I don't think I can find just one word now that I'm writing about it. But that means the story was so meaty that it needs several words to describe it.

This was the early 60's, before my time, yet I found myself imagining what my life would have been like if I had been alive back then, born and raised in Mississippi. I felt such anger during parts of it that I have to be honest and say, I'm glad that I wasn't. I can't, and don't want to, deny history. I can only hope that if I was any character in this book, that I would be Skeeter Phelan.

She's brave. Tenacious. She wants to (and does) write a story, basically blowing the lid off of the suffering of African-American maids in Jackson, Mississippi. As I slowly read each page, I often asked myself, could I have done this? Considering the risk involved, in times where people were beaten and killed for using the "white" restrooms, or being accused of stealing pieces of silver (when they did not) and then sent to prison, Skeeter wanted to become the voice of every African-American woman that suffered. That raised white children, loving them as their own. That turned the other cheek when called "Nigra". I shook my head from almost the first page, until the very last. I hate that it was. But, I can't deny history.

I'm wondering if Kathryn Stockett received flak about attempting to tell a story from a womans point of view outside of her race. When I came to the last few pages of the book, after the proverbial "The End" of the actual story, I read how she grew up in Mississippi, with hired "Help" in her own family. Demetrie, born in Lampkin, MS in 1927. Not that I doubted Kathryns point of view in the slightest, but when I read her own personal story, I almost felt better. I realized that there was a foundation lying underneath the writing of this book. It wasn't as if she was born and raised in New York and decided one day, "Hey, I think I'll write a story about the early 60's, specifically about segregation and all that it entailed".

If you lived it, even partially, you can write about it better than those that haven't, agree?

From the lovingly maternal Aibileen (who may be my favorite character) to the tough, outspoken Minny, the various maids that painstakingly decide to help Skeeter with her journey of truth become my heroes. Every last one of them. It was all so clandestine, secretive. It had to be. I mean after all, what would people say or do if they found out a white women was meeting with black women, and stories were being told? And then typed out in print as fast as Skeeter could type them. I shudder to think.

For the last one-hundred pages or so, I found myself on edge, wondering if the book would be published, and what ramifications that publication would bring.

If you can handle the raw truth of the way it was back then, mixed with a little bit of humor, sadness, anger, fatigue, love, hope, and even audacity, I'm really hoping you buy this book and read it just like I did. Into the wee hours of the night because you can't put it down.

Because when Skeeter comes to this conclusion: “Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought.” I knew this was going on my bookshelf as a keeper.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS You have to know that food was a large part of this story, oh the south! Your mouth-watering breakfasts made by gentle hands. Makes me want to go back to Charleston for cheese-grits and light as angel-wings biscuits!

I've always said, the funniest people are the brilliant ones.

One of the funniest shows on television, for me, is The Big Bang Theory. I'm not always into humorous shows or movies, sometimes I need something quite deeper to hold my interest. But this show hooked me from the first episode, whether it be with Sheldon's idiosyncrasies, Raj's inability to speak to the opposite sex, Penny's less-than-genius way of working through things, or Wolowitz's sheer genius brain coupled with his not-so-genius way of woo'ing girls. And let's not forget Leonard, a an experimental physicist with an IQ of 173, yet he falls short most of the time on the social scene.

What's not to love, right?

The combination of these characters makes the show nothing short of brilliant, but I have to say, Sheldon is my favorite. His borderline excessive compulsive disorder doesn't come across as a problem with it being coupled with the fact that he received  his PhD at the age of16. I've always said, the funniest people are the brilliant ones.

I've since come to realize that the part I look forward to the most during these episodes is the last 3 seconds after the credits roll, and that would be, Chuck Lorre's notes titled "Chuck Lorre Productions". I don't always agree with what he writes, but that's the point isn't it? I've finally learned that stimulating conversation, or "reading" is supposed to make you see something you didn't before, and then you decide whether or not it's for you.

There are literally hundreds of these, but I'll select this one to share for an example.

                                            CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #239


                                                                TO DO LIST

Live to see a highly educated, deeply thoughtful, articulate, cool, biracial President who is not overly crippled by childhood wounds and capable, in no particular order, of freeing the nation of its oil dependence, restoring its international standing, creating universal health care, resurrecting the economy, ending two wars, rebuilding the public education system, finally bringing about an end to the mindlessness of racism, encouraging science and technology, firmly addressing environmental issues and global warming, and uniting the nation - and the world - in a giant cultural, tipping point leap forward.

Meet super-intelligent aliens who disarm the entire planet, cure every disease and take us all for rides across the galaxy.
Play a round of par golf.
Trade solos with Eric Clapton.
Win an Emmy.
Get married, stay married.

One down, five to go.

Indeed, Chuck.

Happy Friday, and Happy Weekend to you my friend,
Tiffany

PS Do you ever have breakfast food, for dinner?

Live the questions now....

I was in one of my favorite places the other day (Barnes & Noble) when I came across a magnet that, once I read it, I knew I had to buy it.

I don't really like to cover the entire refrigerator with a bunch of magnets or, for lack of a better term, crap, because it looks junky to me. I have what I call, a traveling fridge. The magnets that I do have, are from places that I've been, like Paris....Hawaii, Charleston....

I've always liked to read things that make me think, even if it's just a short inspirational message. This one is pure gold, so I'm sharing it with you.

"I beg you....to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live.....everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way....into the answer" -Rainer Maria Rilke

I havent read truer words in a long time. It was like an "a"piphany! See what I did there?

I had to research Rainer Maria Rilke, I haven't heard his name before. I believe I've stumbled upon another favorite.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS I'm happy to report that Breakfast at Tiffanys has been on the patio most of the week. I hope this beautiful weather stays in N. Texas. It's fall after all!

A "picture" of who we are, cemented in cyberspace forevermore...

In a friends recent events, an unfortunate loss occurred, and a friend of hers, a young woman, passed away. It's always sad to read stories like these.  "Gone too soon", the inevitable feeling that washes over us as we share our condolences and feel so sorry for their grief.

I was watching a Dateline special recently about a man that went missing. A few years later, his remains were found. Throughout the entire episode, his Facebook page kept appearing on the screen. It made me look, and sure enough, it's still there.

The woman that passed away also still has an intact Facebook page. The privacy settings are secure (thank goodness) but her picture is almost haunting now, her smile radiant as she holds her dog and grins at the camera. I say haunting only because I know she is gone.

I've been thinking about this for a few days now, what we say and write and do, leaving our "paw print" on the internet. A "picture" of who we are, cemented in cyberspace forevermore. If you have a Facebook page, go back and read your status updates over the last few months. Are they a true picture of who you are? Do they include what you would want everyone to know about you, if something unfortunate occurred and that was all that was left of what you've said?

This is probably why I don't do negativity in Social Media. It doesn't make anyone feel good, first of all, and secondly, what if that was the last thing I said? I wouldn't be a fan of that at all.

I've talked about our "signature" before, here: http://momentsofapiphany.blogspot.com/2010/03/may-i-borrow-pen.html  where I said "Your outlook on a day to day basis, begins and ends with your signature". I still believe this.

As I was writing this post, I did what I asked you to do. I went back and looked at my Facebook updates over the last few months.

The conclusion? It's Tiffany in there all right. I don't need to do any house cleaning. Oh but Zuckerberg, if you're listening, I'd love to add some music to my page, okay?

See you soon!
Tiffany

PS This whole "eating clean" idea has sparked some pretty interesting breakfasts of late. I wouldn't have dreamed of putting oatmeal in a fruit smoothy for example. Quite tasty!

Are we meant to be with just one mate, for eternity?

You know the old saying, "penguins mate for life", right? I've always loved the idea. I've seen this very thing unfold in my own family. My grandparents were married before they were twenty years old and were then married for over 50 years.












Imagine that. A lifetime together. It almost seems unreal to me in this day and age. I don't think I'm jaded, and I'm definitely not against marriage. It just seems so easy these days to bail, when the going gets tough in a marriage, or relationship even.

I've had several people that are in healthy marriages, or committed relationships, tell me that it's a choice. A conscious choice to remain monogamous to their partner/significant other/spouse. I completely understand that, and believe it. It is a choice. I believe it's also hard work. Many people have told me that as well. Although single right now, I've been inside of this hard work before, and it can be tough.
I think fairytales have planted seeds in our little girl brains (I'm speaking for the females here obviously) that provide wonderment, and awe inspiring ideas of what our futures look like with that perfect mate. I know that life doesn't always mimic the fairytale. But, I still believe that it can.


I won't live in a castle per se, or will I?


I spent time in a castle in France two years ago. Someone has to run that place don't they?



My point is, it may not be Cinderella riding in a coach, wearing glass slippers and a sparkly gown, on her way to a ball every evening, held at the castle she will live in one day.


It may be an apartment on the Upper West side in the city, with no yard, with no grass to speak of to walk barefoot through, and no room for a pet. Or, it could be a small house in the country, outside of the small town you grew up in. Maybe a cottage next to the ocean. (I told you I can dream big people)


It could be an apartment in a city that is so jam-packed full of people that you're grateful that suburbs exist. *cough*

I think your fairytale depends on you, and your choices. Daily choices after the big choices. Carefully selecting who you want to spend time with, to allow a relationship to grow. Do you believe in love at first sight?
I don't. I believe in fluttery feelings at first sight. Definitely. But not love. That takes a little time to determine.

I may get flak for this, but I don't know that we are made for just one person for eternity. I'm not against those that feel they are, and they are living that very idea. I'm one hundred percent in support of them. I've just learned so much from a few different relationships that I've had, where I wouldn't change my own story for a thing. Ah well, we all have our own book don't we. Every chapter, every sentence, even the characters, are our own.

I pretty much live my days with full knowledge that this day, and the other day, and tomorrow, brings promise and gifts.
I haven't learned otherwise yet.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS Tea, scones, crumpets, fresh fruit.....for Breakfast. That's what they have in a fairytale don't they? See. We can create our own.

With all of these influences surrounding us, I don't know how anyone could ever be bored

I think movies, commercials, advertisements, songs, and books influence me more than I realized.

Sabrina (1995) has a scene where Sabrina and Linus are eating baked clams. He baked them right on the beach. I've always thought that going to a clam bake would be the epitome of cool. I love seafood, but unfortunately don't have an ocean nearby. Hence, there are clams steaming on my stove as I type this. I've never done this before, I have no idea how they will turn out. My love for cooking sends me down some very odd paths sometimes, I'm willing to try just about anything once. I haven't tasted shark yet,  but one day I will I think.

The recipe I used can be found here: http://www.food.com/recipe/fresh-baked-clams-131901

With the extreme heat that never quits in Texas, the summertime advertisements are obviously going to be geared towards anything that will cool one down. I don't have a strong desire to go to a waterpark, UNTIL they show a snowcone stand. All of a sudden I'm thinking, hey I love water slides. It's okay that there will be 400 small children there. I'm going. I want a snowcone. (Because I wouldn't want to just drive to one of the many snowcone stands around here, that's just boring. And without waterslides)

The 2011 Ford Explorer commercial comes on t.v., and every single time I'm wishing the commercial lasted longer than it does. So much so that, to the internet I go, to try and figure out what song this is, and who performs it.



Yeah, this had me at the first line.....

"If ever there's a reason to be swept up in the season........Of the fallen leaves"

You know Fall is my favorite season don't you?

Songs can take me to different places with just a few notes. I think when memories are attached to certain scents and sounds, the minute we encounter either one again, we are carried back to that initial place where we first heard it, or smelled it. Or maybe it's not the first time, but it's something specific to the memory regardless. The only thing that I think can carry one back to a certain memory quicker, is a photograph. There are days that I wish I had a fancy camera. Maybe one day. But I've taken some pretty awesome pictures with a simple digital camera, or from my cell phone even.

If I want to revisit the Eiffel, I just look at this....

If I want to walk Folly Beach, SC......







A book is a way for me to be in my favorite spot, but still travel to far off destinations, making friends with characters that I might not meet otherwise. I will always choose a book first, over a movie. I don't think that will ever change. I do love seeing the characters come to life on screen, but I feel the book lets you inside their thoughts in a way that a movie may not be able to convey. I love it when the movie does the book justice, I must admit.

With all of these influences surrounding us, I don't know how anyone could ever be bored.

Do you?

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS I have to share, the clams are DELICIOUS. If I can't be at a clam bake on a beach, at least I know I can make them here at home. But not for breakfast. Tomorrow Breakfast at Tiffanys shall be.......strawberry. Something strawberry. Maybe a smoothie!

Saturday is my favorite day of the week, but I can't get there without Friday.

What I learned this week:

1. The best time of day to be outside getting exercise in August in N. Texas is 6am.

2. Related: Never leave home without ice water.

3. People can actually cook cinnamon rolls on the dashboards of their car, on a cookie sheet.

4. Ducks swimming in a pond, with a fountain spraying here and there, at sunrise, is the most relaxing scene ever.

5. Friday is the day we sigh, exhale, let go of the week, and celebrate the beginning of two days of relaxation. Saturday is my favorite day of the week, but I can't get there without Friday.

6. If you don't know how to relax, take a note from Penny:

7. It's National Oyster Day, did you know? Aw Shucks, I will visit you in T-Minus 5 hours.....

8. I've been without transportation for five days. I've suddenly realized that it's not so bad working from home, not being able to go anywhere except with friends help. And for those friends, I am so grateful.

9. Eating broiled salmon and grilled vegetables for breakfast isn't weird. At.All.

10. I think Apes are underrated. They are so intelligent, and really, they're our friends.

Whatever you do this weekend, make it count, and go BIG.

See you soon,
Tiffany

PS For weekends I like the word "Brunch" rather than "Breakfast". Translation: I love to sleep in. Way in.

Where do you go? What do you like to do?

Oh these days.......just keep going by......

Today begins the 'typically' hottest month of the year in North Texas. I strategically chose this week to take my car in for the hood replacement (that could take 6 days to complete) and work from home, therefore not getting out in this heat for a whole week if I choose not to. The pool is the only thing I can tolerate doing outside, unless I want to take a vigorous walk around midnight......(I don't think so).

I had a recent conversation where the person asked me, so....what do you do, where do you go? I was thinking about that today. It was a general question, I didn't list out details from the time the alarm blares in the morning until bedtime falls, and it cools down, oh say, two degrees maybe.

Where do I go?

If this is a work related question, you will find me here:

I LOVE having the dual screen at work, it makes my life much easier when attempting to multi-task, going in several different directions. The hourglass on the left is one where I designed the message, given to a team of very hard-working people who implemented a system my company uses. The message: "Thank You For Your Timeless Efforts". I turn it over from time to time and watch the sand drift very slowly into the bottom globe. But not for long, I'm busy! The phone on the desk almost seems like a decoration now. It dawned on me that I rarely use it. With technology being what it is these days, most of my communication is online. Hence, saving money for the company that I work for.

Sometimes I work from home, and that is a definite YAY in my world. Saves gas, time, money, and sanity. I'm only sort of kidding on the latter.

I can make my own coffee:

And I see my family as I walk down the hall, to go make said coffee:

But of course, every time I do that I'm reminded that I really, really need bigger, or more, bookshelves:

The hodge podge used to be quaint, now it's getting rather annoying to be honest. I can't decide if I want to get rid of the two book shelves that I have and get a nicer, bigger one, or just another one the same size. I already have two, bursting with books, as you can see, and movies. My list of wants grows daily.

What do I like to do?

I love playing spades. I'm not a poker player, mostly because I don't know how. It seems complicated but maybe I just haven't had the patience to sit down and try. I'm not a gambler by nature, so any game that I play is strictly for fun.

I like to stare at a painting in my house and imagine being inside of it.

Doesn't it make you want to walk down that cobblestome street, through the arched doorway, and see what's inside? After I stop at the little cafe of course. And have tea. And read. Or blog! Or read a blog post. Or.....just.sit.there.

I live pretty quiet for the most part. I love music, but not all of the time. I don't need background noise. Sometimes adding music to the day helps it move along, especially when I'm in the office. At home it can, at times, get so quiet you hear nothing but the ceiling fan, and me typing. When I'm reading, I definitely want quiet. I have quite a few books just waiting on me to start, I love that.

Sharing a glimpse of the two; where do I go and what do I do. If I want to go get a fabulous taco and see a movie, you could find me here:

Or here:

The Magnolia Theatre in Dallas is awesome. And The Taco Diner? Delicious, and right across the street. They had me at Brisket Tacos.







Where do you go? What do you like to do?

I can't wait to see a glimpse of your world my friend.
See you soon,
Tiffany

PS Some day we will go to that cafe in the picture, and have breakfast. I know we will.

Remember the days of no Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Google +, etc?

I remember the first time I heard about Twitter. My wonderful cousin Serenity *ahem* http://serenitybohon.com/ asked me if I knew about it. I said, what is Twitter?

A few years later I'm 10,040 tweets in, following 811 people, with 738 followers of my own, and listed 56 times. Oh internet, I really do like you most of the time.

I didn't have a goal in mind, and still don't mind you, that first day I created my profile. I can't remember now what my first tweet was. But I am sure there is some nifty tool out there that could tell me what I tweeted the first time. I do remember having no idea what I was doing. But it didn't take long to get the hang of it. I'm known to say that Twitter is my news source, and I'm serious. It really is. I learn what's happening in the world, very quickly with Twitter.

It took me a while, but I learned that connecting with people and sharing ideas, thoughts, funny stories, or even simple mundane details of my day, was a very cool thing. I didn't ask anyone to follow me. I think if the goal is to have many followers, the idea is to build relationships.
I just engaged with who I was interested in connecting with. I did apply what I consider important Twitter etiquette, the courteous "Follow Back" when someone began following me. It's very easy to decide later on, that the person or business is not for me, and simply click "UnFolllow". It's not personal. It's okay to unfollow someone. If someone "retweets" something that I have shared, a thank you is definitely in order.
 
I've met some really cool people in person that I would have never met if it hadn't been for Twitter. While I think people should be careful when meeting someone they haven't met before but have connected with online, if the setting is right, it's definitely a great thing. A group of people meeting, especially when a few of them already know each other, is okay. I also think that if the person has honest tweets, being true to themselves and what they believe in, when you meet them in real life, it just gets better.

I also think it's a really cool reminder, as I have a short conversation with someone in London, that we are all connected.

Remember the days of  no Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Google +, etc?

Yeah I don't either. We've come a long way baby!

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS @apiphany tweets often, if she's not too busy. Sometimes she takes a break too. Give Twitter a Go, I think you might like it!

Overheard at the Social Media Club

A few close friends and I decided to get together and have a social media club session, primarily for helping one of our own get her blog the way she wanted it as far as layout, rss feeds, etc.

When my friends get together you can count on these things to be so:
1. enough food to feed a small country

2. enough wine/beer for that small country to partake after they eat, or during

3. Cheese in gargantuan proportions, and many kinds

4. hilarity to the point of my stomach hurting from laughing so hard, yet all the while knowing that if I tried to explain to someone that wasn't there, it would end up being a "you had to be there" story.

5. love and support

The love is ever present, we support each others goals and dreams, no matter what.

As I found myself laughing as usual over the various discussions going on around me, I started taking notes. I mean we were all sitting around laptops at the table anyway, it's not like I wasn't paying attention to my friends. I was just, ahem, blogging.

And now for the notes.

Overheard at the Social Media Club........

Have you ever seen Yen Kitty? It's the cutest thing ever.
This is a little kitty that has a rainbow coming out of his nether regions that really, to summarize it in a nutshell, is just plain cute. I had never seen him before

So what do you guys think about Google + ?
There was a huge hear-hear! in reply to this one


http://www.botw.org/ <-------go here, The Best of the Web
Very cool, didn't know it existed

Search Submit Blog to Google, you can add your URL to google, may take a few weeks to show up in searches......
I didn't know this either, but here's the link if you're interested: http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=%2Faddurl

Can you show me how to add the Like button for facebook to my blog?
There was some intense discussion and hand motions during this one, I promptly stayed as quiet as possible in order to allow them to concentrate.
Answer: It has to be generated from Facebook. Go to developers.facebook.com , Port Concepts, Social Plug-Ins, Like Button , and then just use the Standard Layout site for now.

As my peeps were "working" I was casually walking around taking pictures of various items, as is customary.
"What are we supposed to do?"
"Don't look at me, I'm not here, I don't have a camera, just carry on"
"I feel watched"
"Just pretend like I'm not here"

Did you try the cheese?
I tried the cheese. That cheese is the best thing I've had in my mouth in years. (quoting exactly folks)

But did you try the BACON?
I tried the bacon, and may need 911 later. Oh.My.God.

'Oh sh** I can get me a twenty dollar mani-pedi!' (my friend that uttered the phrase is funny anyway, but when this exclamation comes from him, I die) He's pretty much our go-to guy for anything internet, all things web, and new and upcoming gadgets. I'm pretty sure he can build a planet, given the right tools.

So where do you go to buy domains?
GoDaddy.com

"Do you use that one I got you?" "um, what is it again?" "Because I pointed it to your blog for you" "tiffanydavis.net"
Um that's not right, this is some kind of Hollywood thing. Which could be me, but it's not, just sayin.

**please note, it's not tiffanydavis.net. I haven't received word back on what it actually is. Stay tuned for further developments.

I like your shirt, where did you get it?
uh...the internet. I think it's theshirtguys.com or something. I'll look it up. Wait, I don't think that's it. Checking.....wearscience.com/design/robot ....yeah that's it.

I read my friends blog post about going to the Farmers Market where she then shared that she got some fabulous fresh basil, one of my favorite smells.

Meanwhile, Daybreakers is playing in the background for those that are not participating in the social media discussions, loud enough for France and surrounding countries to hear. *sharing is caring

I believe this is the same bottle of wine I brought back from Paris, I said, to no one in particular, as I was musing to myself in the kitchen.

"I don't have a business card, so yeah you know those PR cards, I want to get one of those with all of my info, and then have it tattoed on my wrist so they can scan it with their phone"
What?
(he's dead serious too)

"OMG I want a baby panda!" (as they look at my Friday facebook post)

So are we all in Google + ? Cuz we're gettin ready to Hang OUT ya'll!
There's a nifty little video chat option in Google + called "Hanging Out", try it. It's fun!

"So read my blog post so far".....Title: "10 Social Distortions Cause by the Consumption of Cheese"

Annnnnd the previously mentioned movie playing in the background can now be heard by small third world countries. *note to self, bring earplugs at the next gathering*

Hey does anyone want to do Community Theatre with me?
"no. I love you. but. no"

"I don't feel comfortable smiling, if I'm not actually smiling about something"

Hey can you set up my RSS feed on my blog?
Can I sit? (removal of the enduser and doing it yourself is often warranted)

random: "I'll eat coconut meat, but I don't like Coconut shavings on things"

You know really, friend, there is no way to capture everything being said at one of these gatherings. This is just a little peek into my world, it can get crazy in there, but oh man do I love these people.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS For some tasty breakfast ideas, visit my friends new blog here http://wildjennostyle.blogspot.com/ she's just starting to do what she's always wanted to do, share the recipe, the food, and her life. I say YAY to that!

Your blog is your signature

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a  typewriter and bleed" -- Ernest Hemingway

I know that sounds a little maudlin, but it's from Hemingway, we fully support just about any quote from him, yes?

In my friend circle there has been some discussion of late on what a good blog post is, and what creates enough "want" in the reader to not only click the posted link, but to actually read the post until the last written line. This lead to some interesting discussion about the blogging world, amongst some of my favorite people.

To quote Brian, a best friend for so long I've lost count:
"Honest writing is not necessarily about truth. Honest writing is about making the reader believe that where you are taking them is worth it."

I dig that, and I sign off on the concept one-hundred percent.

I've often told my friend, "Share you. Share yourself and your own story, at times. Your fans love it when you do that, and I believe your stats can back up what I'm saying. This, in no way, means that any story you write, is not meaningful or interesting. But when you peel back the layers, and roll up your sleeves, and type out "I'm here and this is me", they're going to click that 'like' button like there's a monetary gift given for it"

To paraphrase a recent post from my friend who obviously is listening;
"my muse, Tiffany, always trying to keep me on my literary path, and reminding me that some of the blog followers actually enjoy it when I’m totally real, talking about just me and what I think"

Yes, my friend, that's what I said and am still saying.

My blog, is an online journal of sorts. I read posts that go back a year or so just to see what I was thinking at the time. I don't share often, in social media. Usually when I do, it's because someone has nudged me to do so. I love it when people take the time to read, and comment. It's much appreciated. But I don't have a goal in mind, I'm just babbling away, as is customary.

But for my friends that DO have a goal in mind, their recipe blog having several times-ten followers, or their story-esque style blog having the masses read, enjoy and click 'like' to let you know they've stopped by, the bottom line is this:

Get real. Tell us your thoughts. Show us how to make pulled-pork tacos with ranchero sauce. And do this using the best, imaginative words you can muster. Take us to the country you visited outside of these United States, and let us smell the delicious smells, and taste the french wine, and look directly at the pink skies of Paris, France. We should CRAVE pork tacos after you post. And we should be googling flights to Europe after you discuss the narrow streets of Paris and the wonderment of using the Metro to get around without having to driving ourselves.

Another good friend, Daniel, who I am pretty sure hung the moon and made it sparkle, wrote:

I think that most people just want one of four things when they read:

1) to laugh. They don't want character development. They don't want understanding. They just want something quick and funny. If you can make it funny AND lewd, then you're really on to something. *I laughed at lewd, you should meet D sometime, he's awesome in the truest sense of the word.

2) to have someone to cry with. We all feel sadness, regret, upset, and anger from time to time. We often want to know that someone feels just like we do. So we can relate. So we can feel not so alone.

3) to smile. They want to feel good. About themselves. About the world around them. About mankind. About everything.

4) information. If what you're writing doesn't fit into one of those three categories, then it's purely informational. As information, people just want it. They don't want background or follow up. They just want the answer. Don't give me the history of the Computer Virus, just tell me how to get this thing off my computer.


Amen bro.

So I'll end with this. Your blog is your signature. If I click the link, it should give me an idea of who you are, and what you want, like, and dislike.

And if you post baby pandas playing in the snow? I may advise you that you're the best thing since sliced bread was invented. I'm just sayin.

You see?



That's all for now my friend,
See you soon!
Tiffany

PS Breakfast brisket tacos will seriously make you re-think everything you've ever eaten up until now. I think they are a religious experience, judging from the "Oh My GOD" responses I've heard muttered while my friends are tasting for the first time. Get one as soon as you can. Or stop by......I'll make you a believer.

I dreamed a better version of myself

I dreamed a better version of myself.

Today, I remembered the dream.

Tomorrow, I begin the revision to todays rough draft.

The day after tomorrow, I will revise again.

An eraser will not be used, but a red pen, gently slashing through what I was, so that I can see.

The day after that, begins the new revision of the day before.

I don't know when the final copy will be published. It is in the writing, and revising, that I live.

I'll make notes on the side of each paragraph, reminding me that things could be added, here and there.

But no erasing.

I dreamed a better version of myself.

Tiffany

I share a birthday with Vincent Van Gogh, who once said:

"I dream my paintings, then I paint my dreams"

That's what I'm doing my friend.

Lunch Can Be Awesome Too

I don't consider myself a "foodie" but I love reading about new recipes. I don't watch cooking shows that much at all, unless I'm in some sort of waiting room, then I can become entranced by them. Very little time for TV in the summer, there's too much to do!

I love to cook though. I always have. In trying to remember when this started, I'm thinking it was my Grandma. She used to say things like, "oh just a pinch", or just add a dash of that. I don't think any of us can make cornbread the way she did for my Grandpa almost every day. She never wrote down what she did unfortunately. I think we do have quite a few recipes that she had, but the magic cornbread wasn't one of them.

I wrote about my biological Fathers love for cooking and the lengths he would go to, to find that one necessary, hard-to-find ingredient here http://tinyurl.com/2cfveph . I've been told that I am like him in a few ways, this is definitely one of them.

I recently learned that Spanish Saffron is a very expensive little item! But as I stood there staring at the bottle (that head 4 tiny packages of saffron threads mind you) with the $19 price tag, I thought, but I can't substitute, I want to make this the correct way or what's the point? Needless to say, I bought it, and the recipe turned out beautifully. That recipe, vegetable paella, can be found here http://tinyurl.com/62z62ng . I've made it twice, and have adopted it as one of my favorite meals.

Since I am about to embark on a different nutritional journey with Dr.Fuhrmans "Eat To Live" very soon, I am using the ingredients I have in my refrigerator now to finish them out. A lot of what I have is fine even for the Eat To Live concept, but cheese (or any kind of dairy) is not included so today, I ate cheese. I LOVE cheese. I didn't eat much, but I think I made the prettiest salad ever.

And it was delicious!

The Salad:

Tore Romaine lettuce leaves, added fresh spinach leaves, placed in large bowl. Sprinkled strawberries, raspberries and blackberries in. Chopped red onion, sliced mushrooms, shelled sunflower seeds, and shredded Reggiano cheese. The dressing was the juice of one medium size lemon, 1/4 c. grape seed oil, a teaspoon of thyme, and a dash of cracked black pepper. (Olive Oil would be fine too)

The favorite part in the picture is the empty chair, that's where one invites a friend to enjoy lunch with them. Breakfast at Tiffany's is way cool.

But lunch can be awesome too.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

In Review: The Travelers Gift

As I begin to type this out, not even sure if I'm going to post it, I'm already in such a huge state of awe that I can't imagine doing this book justice. I've mentioned before, that I don't blog a review of a book or movie, giving exact details of what happens from beginning to end, leaving the reader with the advantage of not having to read the book or see the movie at all because I've shared the entire story with them on the page.

I'm mostly thinking of these ramblings I do as "notes to myself" ....or something like that. A virtual diary? I think that's it. But I love that you stop by and read my musings.
If you haven't guessed by now that I've added Andy Andrews to my top ten favorite author list, make that top five actually, this post should clear that up once and for all.
I read The Noticer, and said, he can't top that. I read The Butterfly Effect, and said, that little book is going on the coffee table, where it will remain forevermore.

And now I've read The Travelers Gift. I've never read a book where I was left with; I will carry this book with me wherever I go, from this day forward. It fits nicely in my purse, and it's not that heavy being a paperback. You think I'm kidding?

David Ponder reaches the lowest point of his life within a few pages of the beginning of this story. Or so he thinks. I bonded with him immediately out of just simple human compassion. Thinking out loud a few times, "dude that just sucks". (chuckle) When it rains it pours, and all that jazz, you know? He can't seem to win. But oh that lucky, lucky man. He's the Traveler, and his gift comes in the form of a visit to seven, very influential people, throughout our history. At the end of his short visit with each of them, he's given a gift. A piece of paper, with one of seven keys to success written on it.

With Andy Andrews extremely witty style of writing, it's not as if David mysteriously appears in a flash of light, says "wazzup" to the person he's visiting, and asks them to toss him the paper so he can sprint away with it clutched in his hand. That's way too mundane, and simple. But I want you to read it. So that's all I will say here.

A few things I've learned now that the last page has been turned, and I've stared at the back cover for a while. I've never thought that I had a little Anne Frank in me, but I do, and have had, for a long time. This will be the one person that I reveal that David has the great fortune to visit.

Anne shares this during their visit:

"They call me PollyAnna. They say that I live in a dream world, that I do not face reality. This is not true. I know that the war is horrible. I understand that we are in terrible danger here. I do not deny the reality of our situation. I deny the finality of it. This, too, shall pass" ....."but most of all, both of us must remember that life itself is a privilege, but to live life to it's fullest--well that is a choice!"

I don't know if anyone has ever called me PollyAnna per se. But I've been accused of this way of thinking many times. "How can you still smile after that happened to you?" or, "How can you be so forgiving, so happy all of the time?" Just a few examples....you get the idea.

My answer has always been this: Because I choose to smile, and I choose to forgive, and I choose to be happy. I don't wake up every single day singing like Snow White and leaping around my house like a deer in the meadow, let's keep it real people. HA! But even when I know my enthusiasm annoys at times, I don't change a single thing. You know what usually happens, if the stars are aligned? I bring that friend out of their funk, or bad mood. I don't push, I pull. Very, gently. Sometimes I need to be pulled. And sometimes I won't allow it. I want to be in a mood for a little bit. See? I'm human, and not always cheerful. It's just that those moments are so few and far between that I almost don't recognize them, or myself, when I'm in the middle of one.

Oh you have no idea how I want to just SPILL this entire story right now, it's an amazing one.

Tomorrow morning when I get up, I'm going to yell "CHARGE!!!!!!"

And you won't know what that means until.....you read the book.

I love enticing you to walk towards my latest favorite read. I hope I've said enough here to do just that.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS If you were able to visit someone as David is able to, with Time Travel, who would you choose? I've been asking myself  this question since I turned the last page. Alexander Graham Bell maybe. Well, I'm in telecommunications after all.

I like being who I am today

I feel refocused, rehydrated, rejuvenated. That's quite a few "re's" eh? I always feel this way after I get back to Dallas from a visit home, to see my family. I did the smart thing this time, of driving home on a Friday rather than the Sunday before I go back to work. A good two days of pulling everything back together before Monday wakes me up with, "time to be the adult and do the adult things again" is a must.
I always reflect on the trip when I leave, usually beginning on the drive home, and actually for a few days after I get here.
A few mishaps along the way this time, but of course, I didn't let them bother me. Have we met? You know I don't do negativity. My phone met its untimely death as I pulled into my Dads driveway. Au revoir Mytouch 3G slide, I tried to have a relationship with you, even replaced you twice, but we just weren't meant to me. Do you know how much it can drive one crazy to hear text messages coming into one's phone and you can't see them?
Ah well. C'est la vie. Hello Samsung Galaxy, you are so handsome. I like you. Now if I can just get used to that touchscreen.....
The day before I left I was involved in a minor car accident. That's always fun, yes? *shaking my head no*. Here's the good news:
I have insurance, she had insurance. No one was hurt, and both cars had minimal damage. Nothing shattered, no lights broken, nothing rubbing against tires, or rims, etc. Just a slightly bent front part of the hood, with a slight dent. Oh and kudos to the Kirksville MO police, they were timely and very helpful.
After speaking with my insurance agent, I s l o w l y pulled away to drive back to my moms house. I thought, well that's what I get for rising before anyone else to go get coffee and drive the town of my early childhood without taking anyone with me. I just like doing that so much. Quiet time, music playing, as I drive down the street where I used to run to catch the bus for school. Every time I do this I'm reminded how small the street looks to me now, when, back then, it seemed huge. My sisters and I refer to this house just by the number, 814. Many great memories here, and even the house itself looks a little smaller to me now. We used to get ready in the mornings for school, knowing that when we heard Paul Harvey come on the radio, it was time to go. "Good Morning Americans, it's Friiiiiiday!" He said that every Friday morning. I loved listening to him. My Grandpa did too, I think of him every time Paul Harvey is mentioned.
So Sunday arrived and has almost left in a vapor, I have no idea where today went.

But, I have the memories of the trip home, and my folded laundry to smile about as I go to sleep. Don't laugh, laundry being done is monumental in my world.

I learned one thing, that I think I've actually known all along, but it seems so clear now, on my trip. I like being who I am, today. The adult I've grown to become, with a little of the child mixed in, that I used to be. If you're struggling with who you are, or your direction in life, remember this: Embrace yourself. You become the better version of you,  every single day.

Oh and Monday? I'm ready, bring it on.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS My mom showed me a book that she's been reading, and following mind you, for the last two months. She looks fabulous, so I've added this, http://www.drfuhrman.com/weightloss/about.aspx , to my list. Why NOT Eat To Live, it's all about nutrition. So for breakfast, Oatmeal it is!

You have been created as one of a kind....

"Do I make a difference?"
"When I move.....
when I act....
when I do something....

Does the Universe notice?"

Once again I've found a book that I opened, and fell in. I always loved that phrase, "books fall open, you fall in". One of my all time favorite illustrators, Mary Engelbreit, always puts her own whimsical touch with quotes.

This book, that in my opinion would almost be considered a coffee table book, is one that you can read in about thirty minutes. But I didn't just flip through it. I read every word, letting each one sink in. Andy Andrews had me with "The Noticer" and I discussed that here http://tinyurl.com/6cy6wkk , and he's done it again with The Butterfly Effect.

I've heard about The Butterfly Effect before I read this book, but if you haven't, here is a nice summarization of the idea:

In 1963, Edward Lorenz made a presentation to the New York Academy of Sciences and was literally laughed out of the room. His theory, called the butterfly effect, stated that a butterfly could flap its wings and set air molecules in motion that, in turn, would move other air molecules–which would then move additional air molecules–eventually becoming able to influence weather patterns on the other side of the planet. For years this theory remained an interesting myth. In the mid 1990s, however, physics professors from several universities, working in tandem, proved that the butterfly effect was accurate, viable, and worked every time.


Interesting, yes? It sounds a little crazy. I can hear people saying, "oh come on, ONE butterfly flapping it's wings can influence weather patterns? psshh"


Andy Andrews point, in this book, is this: "Everything You Do Matters" And I support this idea, one hundred percent.

I think some of us, sadly, think we don't matter. We're going through the motions of day-to-day life, thinking that we don't make a difference in the world. I'm here to tell you that is false. We DO make a difference. It may not be on a large scale, it could be something as simple as saying hello with a smile to someone you pass in the hall at work. That person could have just received devastating news, and your hello might have softened the blow. Your smile might have reminded them that there are genuinely nice people in the world, and they deserve to have people like that in their life.


Last week at work I was helping a woman in New York via a chat system we use. I won't bore you with the work related details, they're not important. When I thought we were done, I was just about to close the chat window. She said one last thing to me: "I want to thank you very much for helping me today. Last night when I left work, I came upon an accident on my way home. I didn't know at the time, that it was my best friends daughter. She just graduated from high school. She didn't survive the accident. I've been completely unavailable today, making mistakes left and right as you might have deduced. But you helped me get through it. And for that I thank you, and I will never forget it"

Talk about humbling. I sat there and stared at my screen for a full minute or two before I could even respond. I didn't do much to help her, trust me on that. Or.....I thought I didn't.

"You have been created as one of a kind. On the planet Earth, there has never been one like you....and there never will be again. Your spirit, your thoughts and feelings, your ability to reason and act all exist in no one else. The rarities that make you special are no mere accident or quirk of fate. You have been created in order that you might make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world."

Yeah Andy, I hear you.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS Don't ever fool yourself into thinking that you don't matter. We can discuss this over breakfast! Fruit Smoothie anyone?