This week’s post is short and sweet. This Saturday, September 29 is National Public Lands Day. That means fees are waived at all of our national parks. If you can’t make it to a park this weekend, the next fee-free days will be Nov. 10-12 in celebration of Veteran’s Day.
Get to know me
Not bad, just different
I’ve been at my new job for just over three months now. Thankfully, I feel more settled with each passing day but there are still moments of sheer terror or regret. Anytime that I feel confident that I’ve wrapped my head around the tasks that lay before me, something changes drastically. There have been tears and curses but those are starting to give way to contented sighs and a feeling of accomplishment.
After a little reflection I realize that I’m no longer defined by my job. I hesitate to put that into words because part of me still thinks that means I don’t care about my job. That’s not true. It’s just that now I can talk about who I am and what I like without even referencing the work that I do.
In the past, I’ve viewed my job as an extension of who I am. I’m now starting to see that it doesn’t have to be that way. I can care about my job and work hard without letting my profession dominate every facet of my life. I think this is that whole “work-life balance” that people talk about. It’s a strange feeling and I still sometimes spend the evening checking e-mail and freaking out about the next day, but it happens less than before and I’m starting to like that a lot.
Traveling Thursday – Drive safely
For many, summer vacation involves driving. Here are a few tips and tricks to make your journey as safe as possible.
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Both under-and-over inflated tires can cause you trouble so use the tire gauge to ensure that your tires are at the proper pressure. Check your tire pressure before you start driving. The recommended tire pressure for your vehicle should be listed in the driver’s side door, on the glove box door, or in the owner’s manual. Don’t confuse the recommended pressure with the maximum pressure that is stamped on the tire itself.
- Don’t skimp on service! Regular oil changes are even more important in the heat of summer when your engine needs even more lubrication. If your summer routine involves pulling a boat or other equipment, ask your mechanic if you should switch to a more viscous oil.
- Just as you are taking precautions to keep yourself hydrated, make sure your automobile’s fluids (coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid) are at proper levels.
- If your vacation takes you to the mountains, consider downshifting instead of riding your brakes down a hill.
- Keep an eye on your temperature gauge. If you start to overheat, try turning the heat on in your car. This should bring the temperature down a bit. If you have to stop to cool the engine down, remember that you should wait a bit before opening the hood.
- Check out your wipers and replace if needed. Sun and heat can cause your windshield wipers to wear faster.
- Check out the air conditioner. Not only will you get uncomfortable if the air conditioning goes out, but may also lose other important engine systems.
- If you are taking a long drive or heading to a sparsely populated area, consider packing a gallon of water, extra coolant and oil. These items may come in handy during your travels.
- Remember that there are areas were the GPS doesn’t get a signal. Buy an atlas or print your Google map as a backup.
- For driver safety, be sure to take routine breaks. I know someone who drove so long that when he got out of the car, his legs locked up and he fell hard in parking lot. He always thought I was a wimp for taking breaks to stop and stretch my legs but that changed after he bloodied his knees. Be kind to your body and plan to stop about every two-hours or 100 miles.
- Don’t drive when you are sleepy. Drowsy driving can cause accidents. Pull over at a rest area to take a cat nap or treat yourself to a night in a hotel. Check for coupon books at interstate rest stops to bring the cost down.
Traveling Thursday – Get outdoors and enjoy freebies
Saturday, June 9 is National Get Outdoors Day. What, you haven’t ordered a cake or mailed your cards yet? I know it is a made-up holiday but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying free admission to select national parks and public lands.
For a list of participating National Parks, visit this site. This link lists other days when admission to these parks is free.
For a list of the 56 public lands waiving admission on June 9 visit here.
Enjoy the sun and the freebies.
Memories over material goods
I received 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People for my birthday. It’s a great book with lots of fantastic information about our thought patterns and behaviors and there are many tips for using this to your advantage when trying to sell a product, tell a story, or just create good design. The author, Susan Weinschenk, has a great site that also tackles this subject.
A recent post deals with a study that shows that we’re happier with experiences than possessions. It’s a great post that talks about the importance of finding ways to sell your product as an experience and talk about what your company does, not just what it makes.
I was really intrigued by the research and wanted to read more about the findings. I ran across a bit more on the study here. I was particularly interested in the fact that we become less satisfied with our stuff when comparing it with others, but comparing experiences doesn’t create the same response. So if the Jones’ have a bigger TV, you’re depressed about the one you have but if they had a great vacation, even if it was better than yours, the effect isn’t the same. This means you don’t have to have the penthouse suite to enjoy yourself and create lasting memories that will continue to bring you joy.
In all honesty, I’m not particularly surprised by these findings. When I was packing up our in house in preparation for the move to South Carolina, I couldn’t believe how much junk we accumulated over the years. I was faced with boxes of lovely things, some that I had saved for and others that were purchased on a whim, but all were things that I *had* to own. The joy I felt from possessing these objects was fleeting. When faced with the prospect of paying to have these forgotten items moved to the new house, I sent most of them to Goodwill.
It wasn’t hard to get rid of these things. For several years I have felt myself moving away from buying things and toward buying experiences – travel, events, attractions, dining…. I began to realize that our zoo or conservatory membership brought me more happiness than a piece of glassware or new gizmo.
Now, I can’t tell you that I still don’t love buying shoes or that I don’t want a new camera. Of course if you think about it, even these items are more related to experiences (dressing up for a night out, enjoying my photo walks) than to simply possessing something. I’m just interested, and a bit encouraged, by the fact that we’re starting to realize that things can’t make us happy.
Inevitable
“Change is inevitable – except from a vending machine.” Robert C. Gallagher
I don’t feel like I’m particularly afraid of change. I think it’s one of the many benefits of moving as much as we did when I was growing up. That willingness to embrace change is coming in handy as we have yet another change in our lives- Mr. McB has accepted a fantastic new position as a trainer.
I’m just so darn proud and happy that he is going to be taking on new responsibilities that really fit his skills and passion. He always wants me to do work that makes me happy and now, it’s his turn to find his professional bliss. This job is a wonderful blessing and he deserves it.
Selfishly, I’m thrilled that we don’t have to move and that he will be on a normal schedule again. I won’t know what to do with myself when my husband is done at 5 p.m. eastern, not Pacific. I’m already looking forward to taking advantage of the free concerts and other activities that were off-limits with his old schedule. I know there will be bumps, and I’ll miss him when he’s traveling, but I’m ready to meet those challenges and enjoy this new phase together.
Spartanburg Regional History Museum
The main purpose for my trip to Spartanburg was a visit to the Spartanburg Regional History Museum. Thanks to a donor, admission to the museum is free* the first Thursday-Saturday of each month.
The museum’s designers took advantage of modern technology and inventive ideas to fill a small space with loads of information. Located in the Chapman Cultural Center – 200 E. St. John Street, the museum takes up just a portion of the Moseley Building’s second floor but despite its small size, it still manages to offer visitors a lot to see and do.
The museum’s exhibits start with the Native American inhabitants and continue through modern day. That’s a lot of time to cover in a small space, so the museum’s central area is set up almost like a chemistry lab with tall counters and stools. Visitors can get basic information by viewing the information laid out on the counters, but additional treasures including books, maps, arrowheads, pottery, and other artifacts can easily be accessed by pulling out the many drawers or peering in the built-in shelves below the main counter area. For me, this added an element of fun and exploration. The main exhibit space also featured a touch screen timeline that provided more details and helped put important local happenings in the context of national occurrences.
Here are two of the main exhibit items.
The first is the Juan Pardo stone found near Inman, SC. This is said to mark the Spanish explorer’s route when he passed through the area in 1567 on his way to the Piedmont.
The second is a “piece of eight,” the Spanish coin (reale) that was divided into eighths and used as currency in colonial America. The stock market still operates in eights of dollars.
Other interesting exhibits at the museum include a nod to the area’s military past from the Revolutionary War (particularly Cowpens and Daniel Morgan) to Camp Croft in WWII.
There were also exhibits on local life ranging from social to economic including an emphasis on the textile mills that dominated the area’s economy for decades.
I particularly liked the cluster of small doors that were used to tell the area’s story through important dates and “Spartanburg by the Numbers.” The act of opening the doors and seeing an artifact with a date/number helped me to retain what I had learned. 
It’s a very nice museum. You won’t need more than 60-90 minutes to explore it but you won’t be disappointed by the time you’ve spent.
*This information is accurate as of Jan. 2012.
And I know he watches me…
It’s time for the obligatory “year in review” post. Sorry folks, I think a blogging license can be revoked without one and since WordPress is eagerly cheering me on towards my 15th post so I don’t have a choice.
This time last year we knew that the move to South Carolina was a definite possibility. We spoke about it in whispered tones and tried not to let it consume our thoughts. I don’t know that we were always successful but we handled the uncertainty the best way we knew how. I prayed for guidance and God’s will. We continued living our lives while Michael jumped through hoops and we waited, sometimes more patiently than others.
We would wait until the end of February to find out that Michael got the job. In the days to come, I was concentrating on the logistics more than the emotions. I had to make sure he had clothes, household items, and other things necessary to sustaining life (Cleveland Stadium Mustard, his mac-n-cheese pot.) I came close to breaking down whenever I thought being without him so I just pushed those emotions down and packed his tubs.
We were separated from March 31 to October 27. We saw each other for something like 14 days during this time. At first, the days went by quickly. I was consumed by work, packing, and working out in preparation for my role as bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding. I even remember saying that I could get used to having so much time for myself.
The longer we were separated, the harder things got. In addition to missing my husband, I wasn’t able to make an announcement about my move at work until just before July 4. I spent a stupid amount of time keeping a secret that I was ready to share. I was sad, angry, stressed and needless to say, I wasn’t in control of my affairs the way I should have been. I learned my lesson.
I also learned that my husband and I can get through anything together – or apart. I felt lonely, anxious, sad and scared but I never felt unloved. I never doubted that he was there for me. I knew we could get through this and we did. It wasn’t always easy and it was not fun but we made it and I would tell you that our marriage is stronger because of it. I don’t recommend it if you can avoid it but I know that God used this experience to make us better.
I’m also thankful for the friends and family who got me through this time. You listed to me. You cheered me up. You drug me out of the house. I thank you for that.
While the move to South Carolina is the big news for 2011. It’s not the only thing that happened to us.
We hit Orlando for a little vacation in January. We visited the Disney parks and behaved like big kids. While Mickey and friends were awesome, they weren’t the best part of the trip. During our time in Orlando we were able to connect with my husband’s extended family. I had the best time with them.
In March, I visited Vegas with my mom and aunt. In addition to the Bellagio fountains, the gardens at the Flamingo and all the fun people watching on the strip, we also visited the Grand Canyon. It was a fun girls’ trip with memories that I will treasure forever.
I was able to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and niece in Dallas in late April. It was a great chance to see them and their new surroundings. It’s hard being so far away from them so I really treasure any time we can spend together. I was fortunate enough to be able to go back in November for my niece’s sixth birthday. I thank God for the crazy, funny, smart little person she’s become.
As part of my job, I was able to visit Switzerland in July and Greece in September. I am thankful for these experiences and good, safe journeys.
2011 had some scary and sad moments too. My grandfather spent a good part the year in the VA. He struggled with pneumonia and a host of illnesses, some certainly exacerbated by the “care” he received at the VA. In late February I drove to Tennessee to see him for what I feared might be the last time. It is still almost too painful to think of him in the bed groaning in misery as he wasn’t even allowed to have ice chips. It was a rough time. I remember stopping in the bathroom on my way out of the hospital. I couldn’t cry, I could barely catch my breath – the pain was just too much. I just prayed again for God’s will to be done and some comfort to come to all of us. There were still ups and downs and some bad scares but I am happy to say that he was able to come home in the summer after time in both the hospital and rehab. His body is weaker but he’s still sharp and witty – if a bit more inpatient and willful.
There was loss in 2011. We cried with friends and family. Our hearts ached for them. There was also hope and love. We saw healing miracles and the loving smiles on our friends’ faces when they said “I do.”
Through everything that happened I knew there was a plan for me. Even when I gave into worry and despair, it didn’t last for long. I knew my Heavenly Father was there for and with me. It’s with that knowledge that I made it through 2011. It’s the same knowledge I take into 2012 and I’m thankful for that.
Love and Happy New Year…
With peace on earth, goodwill to men
“The giving of gifts is not something man invented. God started the giving spree when he gave a gift beyond words, the unspeakable gift of His Son.” Robert Flatt
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope your heart is full of love today and always.
Point of no return
The sentiments behind this post have been tugging at me for a while. When a friend lost her father to cancer just before Thanksgiving, I knew I needed to write it.
Before I get to the point, and it’s coming I promise, let me say that I am lucky. I have been blessed with an amazing family. We aren’t perfect. We can be nosy, overly critical, opinionated…we can be real annoyances at times. But, I wouldn’t trade my family and I’m pretty sure they feel the same about me, even when I am making them nuts.
There are a lot of other people in this world who aren’t that lucky. For them, the familial relationship is toxic, not warm and supporting. This isn’t caused by a minor argument or hurt feelings but by very real threats to a person’s mental, and sometimes physical, health. Their well-being depends on staying away from their relations. For these people, cutting ties with their family is the only decision but it is never an easy one and it’s certainly not something that they want to do. Some took decades of abuse before letting go; others could take this treatment for themselves but couldn’t see a spouse or child endure the same. No one wants to be in this situation. No matter how necessary the decision, it still comes with grief and a sense of loss.
These people I understand. I can’t really relate to their decision, but I get it.
What I don’t understand are people who willingly push their family members away for minor wrongs – whether real or perceived. Instead of trying to overcome their problems and forgive, they sit in judgment and use love like a weapon. They’re all too willing to turn their backs on a sibling, spouse, child, parent, or other relation often just because the other person made a life choice that they don’t like. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that God doesn’t treat us that way.
To these people I say, “build a bridge and get over it.” We’re humans – sometimes we get things wrong. Of course sometimes we just do things you don’t like and that’s not the same as being wrong. You can turn your back on your loved ones. You can treat them maliciously. You can withhold your love. You can’t possibly be surprised when that “offending” family member decides that he/she is tired of being hurt and stops giving you the opportunity to do so.
Sugar, come sit a spell. 