I love writing Talk Tuesday twice a month now. It is giving me time to write other content that you might like. Have you seen the Gardening segments that have joined the blog and now Flashback Friday? In case you don’t know, Talk Tuesday  is where you get to ask me whatever you want and I answer you. Did you miss the prior weeks, take a gander as there is some good stories in there: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7  | Week 8 | Week 9  | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 24 | Week 25 | Week 26 | Week 27 | Week 28 | Week 29.

 What is the greatest compliment you have ever received?

Damn, this is a tough one. I can tell you the compliments that I remember the most. When someone I admire thinks that I am smart and can hold my own in intellectual conversations. You see, there are times when I don’t think I lived up to my full intellectual potential. When I am with people who are way smarter than I am and they pick up on the fact that I am a smart one, I like that.

When people reach out to me and say they have changed their life because of something I did, I consider that a very high compliment. It is hard to face your demons and change who are you. I did it though, I’m still doing it. Being brave and living a life out loud is not easy. So when I share one of those posts that I am afraid to hit enter on and someone reaches out and says – Thank You – that means a lot to me.

As a writer, I am in my head a lot. I sometimes say the stupidest shit when talking to others. But when I write… my thoughts are clear… I feel at home on this keyboard. When someone reads my work and it moves them and they feel they are right there with me in the story, that is a really awesome compliment to a writer.

Of course I love to be told I’m beautiful, but honestly, when someone starts down that line with me without knowing me, I don’t believe them. In time my looks will fade, but the woman I have built on the inside with continue to live on through all the grey hair and wrinkles and sagging ass.

What’s the perfect temp to serve a Guinness?

According to Guinness in Dublin, the perfect temp for their stout is 42.8 degrees. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, my friends!

Does adding a penny to a Tulip Vase really help?

No it doesn’t. Adding a penny to tulips is supposed to help them stand up straight – it is a myth. Tulips will grow toward the light source – whether that is a sunny window or overhead lighting. To get them not to do this, grab a floral knife and cut a 1 cm slit just below the head of the tulip. This prevents the tulip from doing this and will keep them standing up right.

Snow Fire Tulip Flower Seeds – $6.25

Those little packets of floral food that come with arrangements … Do they really work?

Yes! If you picked up fresh flowers at the market, give them a clean cut on the bottom. Fill the water up in the face with lukewarm water – not hot or cold! Add it the packet of water and stir for it to dissolve. Place your flowers in the water. Change out your water every couple days and give them a fresh cut to make your flowers last longer. You will need another packet of floral food!

Is your travel schedule still where you thought it would be?

Sadly, no. I canceled going to SxSw in Austin this week and I am not able to make it to the Dent conference in Sun Valley, Idaho this weekend. I am really, really bummed about this one. All of my friends will be there, most of whom are founders. It is the kind of intellectual weekend that I have been looking forward to for months. My scholarship didn’t come through for it and it is what it is. I need money for bills right now. Since I am writing more on the book, my writing for clients is lower which adversely affects my income.

I was just granted Press for the Craft Brewer’s Conference in Portland in mid-April. I’m working on this trip next. Plane tickets from Anchorage to Portland are typically much more budget friendly. From there, hopefully I can tack on some time in San Francisco.

As of right now, I won’t make it to Europe in May. Again. That’s ok, I have to believe I am going to be where I am supposed to be. I know I am not supposed to be traveling right now, but working on getting my life back into balance.

What’s with all these changes you are making?

It goes back to that last sentence of finding balance. I said it earlier this week – nothing is really wrong per se, but nothing is right either.

Financially: I’m working on my books using Quickbooks online. I haven’t done this in a very long time. I think I was on burnout from doing the shop’s books for so long. But with the help of a good friend and my accountant – I am working on getting this done and taxes filed on time.

Physically: Did you see my post on Sunday – I’ve Gained 25lbs in One Year. Oh, Holy F*ck!. I am working with an accountability partner and we had to weigh-in and do measurements. I was stunned and sick to my stomach when I compared the numbers to the last few years. What have I done? Where was the balance I had in running, eating healthy, AND still having a drink or two a week. I am NOT in balance. My life is not in balance.

I signed up for DietBet.com and am challenging my friends to lose 4% body weight in 28 days. Let me know if you would like to join in. I also broke up with my love, Dirty Chai in I Have To Let You Go. It’s Me, Not You. I need to lose 50 pounds and 54g of sugar in one drink isn’t going to get me there.

I don’t feel beautiful, attractive, but most importantly, I don’t feel like an athlete anymore. And that, I can’t have.

I want this woman back – she was in balance. Mind, body, spirit were on point.

Mentally: I have my moments. Some days there are more bad moments than good, but right now things are ok. I’ve been having a lot of negative self-talk because I’m not making enough and I am not finished with the rewrite of the book yet.

What happens if I write this book and no one reads it? What if no one wants to publish it or it doesn’t sell or the format sucks? What if, what if, what if??? Publishing a book keeps me up at night.

So there it is… that’s how I am doing in a nutshell. Anything surprise you? Any words of wisdom to share?

 

OH – I haven’t done a newsletter in ages and just sent out my first one. Here it is, feel free to subscribe if that is your thing:) It’s Been A Long Time, Did You Know I Was in Alaska?