It was a VERY productive day.

So how did Day 1 go, you ask? Well, it was very productive. While contemplating my lenten sacrifice, I wanted to really give the idea of a lenten "discipline" some focus. Obviously, living without FB will be something. But what else? What good, positive, meaningful things will I take on in the absence of dear ole FB. I am blogging again, that has been good, but I decided what I really needed to focus on was to purging some things. Cleansing myself of  some of the crap that plaques me every day- some physical stuff and emotional stuff of course.

SOOOOO - My office is was attrocious. If you know me, you know I have an issue with clutter. Yes, a few more years with no intervention and you might find me on an episode of Hoarders.

So many of the items in my office serve no real purpose. They have meaning, but no purpose and so as I sat amongst stacks and stacks of papers, and lots of trinkets, I realized that I needed to clear the space and on some grander level, clear the air. It is sometimes too thick, too tense, too much! Cleansing my space of the "extra" was quite a rewarding experience and while its not paradise up in here - it is certainly peaceful and a good place to focus, especially with my Thelonius Monk playing.  I have a sweet reminder of what the Lenten season is all about close by. I have taken some of my very special items to my home and thrown much away. Was it a good day? Absolutely! 

Can I promise that my workspace will stay this way, HELL no!

Thought for the day:

"Don't own so much clutter that you will be relieved to see your house catch fire."

Wendell Berry (Farming: a hand book)



Shall I Break Out My Scapular?

Back in 2004 I was working full time at the University of Florida and working half time toward my Masters degree in Agricultural Communication. It was busy, chaotic, and fun. I was also planning a wedding - that was busy, chaotic, fun for about two weeks.... but a beautiful day it was. I joined Facebook right around this time out of complete curiosity. Most of the younger, cool, kids at UF were doing it so I thought I would give it a whirl. Initially FB was just a college thing - you had to have a university email address to even register. Overtime, it turned into - well you know.

Facebook has been the most amazing way to stay in touch and connect with people who are miles away from me. My mother has joined Facebook and we "chat" quite often. It is the perfect way for me to share pics of my baby  boy with my family members. I have connected with my Aunt Peggy, my Aunt Donna, my cousins, nieces and nephews and become a fan of Stull's Country Store in good Ole Andyville, Kentucky. Those are just a few examples. It has been a great way to stay in touch, not debating that.  Every student who I have had some sort of impact on has found me on FB. I have watched students I had 8 years ago, grow in to successful professional people (well a good portion of them - Some of you guys need to lay off the sauce and party life - grow up already. )

On the flip side, it has been a black hole for my productivity. I have said things I regret. I have made people furious with me on Facebook. I have let people drive me insane on Facebook. I have been defriended and refriended. I have had to block people on Facebook. I have had people try to fraud their way into my bank accounts. I am not sure if it is all worth it.

With that said, I don't intend to abandon my Facebook friends and family. That is part of this. I plan on writing notes to some of you, on paper - you know, like with a stamp and stuff? I will Facetime more, write emails more, send packages. I also plan on looking at this as a challenge for a new creative and productive discipline. I will blog weekly. As you can see, this is my first blog since Aug of 2011. I am excited to tell everyone about my life in a positive, creative, and rewarding way. You will see my life unfold and hopefully be entertained enough to comment and let me know that you are out there. You will also still see pictures of the Taj - no worries.

I cannot conclude this post without leaving you with something to chew on. Meditate on this tonight:

"You and I have been created for greater things. We have not been created to just pass through life without aim. And that greater aim is to live and be loved and we cannot love unless we know. Knowledge always leads to love and love to service." Mother Theresa

" I spent some time in a convent training to be a nun, I got expelled due to my dirty habits" - unknown