It has got to be.  I live with a ninja/monkey.  It is official.  I am changing Wise Guy’s name to Ninja Monkey.

Last night, I took Sweetie to Tae Kwon Do.  45 minutes of having to wrangle Ninja Monkey and contain his energy so that he doesn’t destroy the place, lick the viewing window, or distract the students.  Not easy with Ninja Monkey.

So, I taught him to go out the “door” and come in by bowing and saying “Hello, Ma’am, Hello Sir.”   (This is how they enter the school).  I must say, it was freaking cute to see him do this, and he did it several times.

Then I had to stop him.

Why?

He got all Ninja on my ass.

He went out.  He bowed.  He said, “Hello ma’am.”  Then he began running towards me.

I opened my arms to hug him.

He jumped, lifted both feet in the air in front of him….. and kicked me square in the chest with both feet.

I lay on the floor,  in front of everyone, and slowly let the remaining air out of my lungs  with a “haaaaaaaaaaaaaa….”.

He jumped up and began to do a victory spin.

Oh, he lived to regret it.

Furthermore, the kid  is a monkey.  He will use me every way to Sunday as a jungle gym.  He will climb onto the couch.  I will be standing next to it, vacuuming.  He will climb onto my arm and try to sit on my shoulders.

I will be sitting at my desk.  He will climb onto me, to get behind me on the chair.

He uses anything and everything as a mountain….. or tree if we are using the monkey analogy (because Ninja Edmund Hillary sounds too weird.  Alright, Ninja Monkey isn’t much better), begging be conquered.

Ninja Monkey is wearing me out.  But, at least I can say that he hasn’t started throwing poop….. yet.

I did mention that I was doing Photo 365 last week, didn’t I?  And then, I  haven’t published one photo since then, have I?

Yeah. But you know what, I am not going to be upset about it.  I did not set a resolution.  I set goals.  I failed to meet the daily goal, but today is a new day, and goals can be achieved.

It seems like I have to streamline my photography work flow a bit.  I have the photos, I just have not done anything to them to get them posted.  Like, upload them.  Or edit them (make them smaller, transfer out of the RAW format…. I do very little editing to photos…. usually).

So here is a catch-up.  These are not the best photos (haven’t been in the photo mood, oddly), but they serve as symbols for my days.   My photo 365 project will be posted under photography up top, usually with blogging associated with it.  However, today, I am simply posting photos.  And then I am going to go kick my husbands butt to design me my photography website ( for the biz).  May decide to form a separate photo 365 site too.

One thing at a time.  No more procrastinating.

January 1st

“I will forge a sword” - Sweetie

January 2nd

“I Wike Blocks” - Wise Guy

January 3rd

A rear view of the box

January 4th

“This is how I mope.” - Wise Guy

January 5th

Back to School

January 6th

A walk through history

January 7th

Me.  Sweetie took this picture with my D70.

The camera was as big as her head, but she has got the eye.

There you go.  Now, I just have to keep up!  Me needs me some photo inspiration.  Got to get out of this funk.

It has been a half year since I started blogging.  And what a year it was. When I first started, I honestly had no idea the depth blogging would take me.  I started writing for me.  Instead, what  I found  was a whole community out here that I barely knew existed.  Women, men, writers, photographers, entrepreneurs, dear friends that inspire me daily to pick myself up and keep going.  People that help me become a better writer, gain confidence, think, and debate. People who inspired me to take the plunge and to start my photography business this year.  People with whom I argue.  People from whom I receive support.  People whom I support. People whom I am proud to call “friend”,  even if we have never met.

There are several blogging conferences this year; conferences I would LOVE to go to.  Blissdom is one of these conferences, with AMAZING speakers (if you have a chance to go, I would HIGHLY suggest it…. I am sad to miss it this year).  But unfortunately, it is occurring too near some MAJOR expenses for our family (a falling chimney, heating oil for a 120 year old house where you can feel the wind blow, a car that needs some work……. Christmas), and I don’t think I can make it happen.   The other is the BlogHer convention occurring in July.  Finances are still going to be very tight to get to Chicago (especially with me starting my own business), but might be slightly easier than right now.

Fortunately, I may have some help.  Erin at Queen of Spain is doing something very, very cool.  She is giving away a BlogHer registration on her blog.  I simply have to explain why I want to attend BlogHer in 2009 and how I plan on supporting women I know and love.

I want to attend the BlogHer conference in 2009, so I have a chance to meet all of my new found “sistas and brothers”  that I have come to know in this wonderful community.  I have formed a true connection with so many (and honestly some of them have changed my life), and I would love to finally meet them face to face where I might not otherwise have the chance.

I also want to learn.  As a  former teacher, I am a life-long learner.  I absorb all that is around me, and apply it to my own situation.  BlogHer offers the opportunity to learn about writing, learn about blogging, learn about business practices.  I would love for the opportunity to learn, discuss, and participate in the forums….. and then share what I have learned on my blog.  I will always be a teacher.

Finally, I want to share.  Blogging has made me realize that we all share something….. the human condition.  We all share knowledge, we all learn from each other.  I am proud that I have been able to support many in their time of need with comments I have made on their blogs.  I am also proud that I have had the courage, with support of these dear friends, to write pieces on post-pardom depression and grief, with the goal to try to help others through.  I plan on supporting others with what I write, but with also ideas on how to be the best that we all can be.  I plan on offering encouragement where needed and to collaborate to create something wonderful.

In all honesty, blogging has opened a world of possibilities and encouragement to me.  I want to share that with as many as I can.  I fully believe that a conference such as BlogHer can give me the tools to do just that.

2009.

Everyone is thinking and writing resolutions.  And I am no different. However, to be quite honest, I have never really set goals for myself at the turn of a year.  I have always dabbled in vagaries.  You know the type of resolutions…. get healthy, get organized, lose weight, be better.  Resolutions with no set time frame, no measurable change, no staying power.  This year, this changes.  I am setting goals.  Goals I will be assessing weekly.  Goals I can measure.  Goals that you will be able to follow. So, without further adieu…. my goals.

1.)  Remain authentic.  Find and keep my own voice.

2.)  Write.  Write daily. May not publish daily, but write daily.  Write what is on my mind without fear.

3.)  Read.  Read daily.  The path to good writing is exploring others’ writing.

4.)  Photography.  Take photos daily (photo 365 project coming here).  Participate in critiques.  Learn, read, develop mad photographer skills.

5.) Start my photo business.  It is something I have been putting off for three years.  Time to take the plunge.

6.)  Smile each day.  Get out to make more friends.  Keep in touch.  I have had a lifelong struggle with depression which often disallows me from doing these things.  The depression then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.  This will end.

7.)  Let go of that which is toxic in my life.  I had a dream last night where I was literally talking in my sleep in confrontation.  Toxic things have occurred in my life this year (hell for the past four years) on several different fronts.   Things that may never be properly addressed.  It is my burden to carry, and I have had trouble letting it go in my own head (particularly since I must face or read emails concerning these things quite frequently).  Somehow, I must find a way to move forward and let it go. I cannot, no, will not  let it create more turmoil in my life.  I must accept things were never how I thought they were or will never be the same.  I cannot continue to have these dreams or live with some of the pain that the last four years has sent my way.

8.)  Work from home.

9.) Develop a schedule.  Stick to it.

10.)  Find joy in my life.  Create joy in others.

Each week I will be assessing my goals, and assessing my accomplishments.  I often get down on myself, not celebrating the small victories, but focusing on the even smaller failures.  It is time for weekly reality checks that allow me to celebrate.

What are your goals?  How are you going to promote yourself to success?

Mabyn , the winner of the HP Magic Giveaway, and her husband  are a truly extraordinary people.  First, the day their winnings were delivered, Mabyn’s husband delivered over 7,000 coats to those who needed them in the greater Baton Rouge area.  Then, Mabyn proceeded to share her winnings with those in the community, acting as a source of hope and happiness for many.  She shared my vision of giving, and participated 10 fold.

Mabyn personifies all the hope that I have for this next new year.  She has given hope and promise to a new entrepreneur.  She has put a smile on the face of many women and children at a battered women’s shelter.  She has supported a student in her journey to become a social worker, where she will be able to affect many.  Mabyn has opened her heart and chose to be a force for greater good in her community.  In times where hope seems lost, Mabyn, and those like her,  have the chance to change communities, one person at a time.  In the process, they affect far beyond their own personal reach.  It spreads.  And in the end, they are much richer for it.

It is my personal goal to be more like Mabyn in this next new year.  Her generosity has brought joy to my own life.  Thanks, Mabyn, for sharing with me, with all of us, your journey.

You can follow Mabyn’s personal Joy Journey here.