Like a bee.

It's funny to me how having a blog creates a new sense of responsibility, like I "owe" regular posts to anyone reading this. Anyway, here I am, feeling the need to check in.

On most days, life doesn't seem overwhelmingly busy. When I sit down and think about everything I am involved in, though, it's no wonder I have been away from this for so long. What am I doing with my time?

• going to school full-time
• managing projects for an internship 
• working part-time
• helping a friend start her own business
• dancing on a ballroom formation team
• working out every weekday
• freelance writing 
• trying to maintain a social life and keep my apartment livable 

Yes, we college students lead such glorious lives.

Well, homework is calling. I'll leave you with some actual work and not just words. For my Human Factors class, each student was asked to assess their workstation, and adjust it to make it more ergonomic. The photos really demonstrate how much of a difference a few height adjustments can make!

Bicycling = a "man" thing? A marketing criticism.

Today I received the bill for a magazine I recently subscribed to. Apparently, I am not a member of the target audience for this magazine, because I also received the following advertisement:

As a woman, reading things like "Rocket your muscles to MASSIVE SIZE and EXPLOSIVE POWER!" and "HUGE in a HURRY" (apparently all-caps and extra exclamation points in ads appeal to men?) only makes me laugh. It's interesting to see how men are marketed to, and what magazines expect their highest priorities to be.

But I would also like to know where the right magazine is for female cycling enthusiasts. The bill I received today is for a bicycling magazine, but apparently their primary audience is men. In women's magazines, even fitness or health magazines, bicycling is rarely mentioned, compared to running, elliptical training, yoga, etc... 

Is there a magazine out there for female cyclists that I'm just not aware of? I would love to know if anyone out there can point me to one. Or maybe I should start one of my own? Is there enough of an audience that such a publication could be sustained? Just as a point of reference, there are 21,000+ people that "Like" Trek Women on Facebook, versus 29,000+ that "Like" Bicycling Magazine. 

Maybe I'm more worked up because I really want it to be spring so I can go mountain biking again. But I think my "wonderings" are valid... what do you think?

Media 2: Simen Johan

Today I created my first post for my Media 2 class, commenting on this photograph by Simen Johan:

To read it, click here.

Vulnerability.

After watching this, I've got tears welling up in my eyes. Reflecting on my New Year's resolution after this video and a chat with a friend/mentor, I know I can't actually "fear less"... fear is natural and happens whether I want it to or not. I can only recognize my fear and then choose whether or not fear will drive my actions. But if I choose to face fears and allow myself to be vulnerable when there is uncertainty, I will be choosing to truly grow, live and love fully.

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

Gah, I'm inspired. I'm going to go do a happy dance now...

Fear less.

New year. New semester. New internship. New beginnings all around.

The hope and anticipation that comes with beginnings is something I often let myself get lost in. I love to make plans, to organize the next phase of something... and make resolutions that will make the next phase fresh and amazing.

This year I resolve to fear less. Occasionally over the past several weeks I have reflected on how fear has impacted my life, what it has kept me from doing but also what it has driven me to do. I have thought about how fear will impact me as a project manager, a student, a friend, etc. I was flipping through a magazine a few days ago, and turned to a page that agreed: "Be fearless... Imagine the person you want to be and the life you want to live, and simply commit to them... don't be afraid to make a splash." 

I want to be present to the people I'm with and the things I am doing, rather than worrying or even fantasizing too much about what the next week/month/year will hold. I should not be afraid to be human, to not have every word I say or thing I do completely figured out. 

Be bold. Fear less. Be here now.

Enough mushy words. I promise I will post some work soon, once I've dug into this semester's projects!

P.S.- The project manager in me wants to add how I will assess my level of fearlessness as the year goes on. I plan to write (in my journal, and here when appropriate) at least weekly about the fearless things I do, and document such things in photos when possible.

Fun little things.

I made some greeting cards tonight!

I bought "A Little Book on Love" at Barnes & Noble yesterday. It features Lela Lee's Angry Little Girls, and it was too funny to pass up. It's tough to pick out favorite spreads, but here's a few to just give you an idea of what the book is about (and how small it is!):

I explored more of the Angry Little Girls website, and really enjoyed these ecards: "Love is friendship set on fire" and "It's dancing time!"

Vacation.

First of all, a pair of photos I find amusing.
This is my apartment during finals week...

...and this is my apartment approximately four hours after my last final.

This reveals a few things.

1. Finals week was intense.

2. Cleaning is therapeutic (helped me de-stress at the end of the week).

3. I like to photograph oddly ordinary things. 

I am so happy to be on vacation, and even happier that my sleepless nights and full days in school paid off (I received my grades today!). After taking a semester off, I was very determined to do well, but slightly afraid of what that would require of me. 

So what have I been doing with my new free time? 

+ Baking "Peasant Bread"

+ Checking out Native American art at the MIA

+ Walking through snowstorms

+ Packing many Christmas gifts

+ Playing "Dance Central" 

+ Reading 

+ Drinking fine wine 

+ Gearing up to start doing work for my internship

I love it. Trying to treasure every ordinary moment because before I know it, I'll be starting classes again.

I will leave you with this, another lovely tea bag tag from Yogi Tea.