Dating: Text Follies

I was getting ready for a date last night with a man/boy/dude that I have been seeing for a few weeks when I received the following text (I shall refer to him as "Dude"):

• Dude: Sorry babe I don't want such a silly thing to ruin us.  Have a good night.
• Me: Huh?
•        What silly thing, "Dude"?
• Dude:  Uhhhh psssst. Yeah that was sent to the wrong person. Texting after a nap not a good thing
• Me:  Guess not.
• Dude:  Soooo. Dinner?

I know you all want to know if I went to dinner. Yes.  Mostly just to see him squirm in his explanation.  I found this to be absolutely hysterical and it helped me to keep some humor instead of flinging my bacon-wrapped shrimp and cheesy grits at him.  Onward and upward!

Blogs about Blogging

      With privilege and honor, I wrote a three-part series blog about...blogging...for Firebelly Marketing.  Readers, fans, followers, do you remember this time last year when I was scanning Christmas gifts at a big box store that made me wear red after long hours at Angie's List?  Do you remember me bemoaning all this and searching for a niche for which to dedicate this blog?

      Well, bemoaning be gone, but niche contemplation remains.  However, blogging about blogging felt right right, or at least for that moment.  I realize most of you could care less about how to develop a blog, so I am not feeling that for Random Thoughts and Corn Stalks. But, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to write this blogging series on blogging for Firebelly Marketing.  Duncan Alney, Firebelly President, was one of the very first people I met when I  decided to take the leap into social media and blogging professionally.  I am honored to be a contributor on his company's blog.  

Interested in seeing the series?

Firebelly Blog

MOOSE UPDATE:

He's a good boy!!!  I will tell you all about this Thunder Vest in an upcoming post.

Space Cadet. I Didn't Get the Memo!

     Did you know that two spaces are not required after a period or other punctuation? I did not get the memo. I learned to type on typewriter a bigillion years ago and took keyboarding in junior high. When did this "no two spaces" policy take effect? I have submitted hundreds of papers, articles, and blogs to professors and editors over the greater part of 20 years. Why am I just learning this?
     One of my editors, Erik Deckers of Professional Blog Service, tweeted a few months ago about knowing the age of his writers by how many spaces they put after a period. I had a feeling he was talking about me in a good way - like I'm old school - thank you very much! Nope. He has been Ctrl+A-ing all of my work to find my excessive spacing.  
     Come to find out that my duplicate spaces are like a slap in the face of technology.  Apparently, Microsoft Word knows how to insert proper spacing between sentences without me bossing it around or something. Duly noted.

A Summer in Review

   First of all, I always thought the seasons changed on the 21st of each month.  However, the autumnal equinox arrived at 5:05 a.m. on Friday, September 23.  So now I know.  I treasure the seasons' transition in Indiana -- probably my favorite thing about this state. The mild temperatures and changing landscape draw me outdoors to blare music in the car with the sunroof open, take long walks with the dogs, and lead way to thoughtful reflections.
   
This past summer brought good times, good work, good friends, good food, and just general goodness.  Here is a pictorial review of my Summer 2011:

I got paid to write stuff about stuff that goes on these machines.  I have a writing partner for one project and it makes writing about obscure things more enjoyable.  My old and dear friend, Celeste, keeps me on track with this fun stuff.  Riveting work we are producing - riveting!

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I had the honor of standing up in one of my dearest friend's, Sarah Owen Bigler, wedding.  This was the first wedding where all of the bride's maids were my dearest friends.  Sarah took everything leading up to wedding in stride and was such a generous and gracious bride.  Congratulations!!!

As I mentioned in my last post, I vacationed with the whole Barich family in Union Pier, MI.  Lake Michigan's salt-free waters helped to create many amazing memories for the 20-something of us.  It was one of the best vacations I have ever had.  Pretty lucky to enjoy my family's company for a whole week.

Oh...and I ran into my old Angie's List boss, Craig Boas, and his family on the beach one night at sunset...so random.  

I enjoyed the fruits of Indiana summers at our Sunday night family dinners at Mom and Dad's. I came to a truth about corn on the cob.  I don't like it.  There, I said it and I do not believe that makes me a bad Hoosier either.

The Indiana State Fair filled one summer day of fun, food, and stinky animals.  My favorite part of the fair is the big mama sow and her little piglets.  Mom and Dad were at the tragic stage collapse at the Sugarland concert and the non-profit that Beth works for set up the charitable fund for the victims and their families. 

And of course I spent several loving moments with Moose and Lilli.  Since Moose got kicked out of daycare and Lilli got word from the vet that she needs to lose 10 lbs., we have been walking...a lot.  They are a pair.  I will never understand how people do not like dogs.  Sure, they drag in all kinds of dirt, tear up stuff (sometimes,) and have less than favorable behaviors from time to time.  

But, the unconditional love they give is gold.

HOW WAS YOUR SUMMER?

Pressure's On!

    Today, my first guest writing tip went out in the Green Piece Indy e-newsletter.  At the bottom, Renee shared a link to my blog for people to learn more about me.  Oh the panic!  I haven't posted here since May and I didn't even write that post.  Every week I swear that I will post, and then that week goes by unfulfilled.  
    So, thank so to Renee for the much needed fire under my tookus.  
    I am on vacation with the Barich-side of my family.  Actually, my mom's sister and brother are here, too.  It's a Barich-McMahon mash up in Union Pier, MI.   My parents both grew up in Gary, IN and their families have been intertwined for years.  My dad is one of seven and my mom is one of four.  They all went to Andrean High School, a catholic high school in northwest Indiana.  My throat hurts from laughing so hard at all their memory lane stories last night.  My dad would start a story and then pause in amazement at Eric Clapton wailing from the iPod.  He retired on Thursday after 39 years in claims at Allstate Insurance.  Joy and peace just surround him this week as we chuck it up with the family, 25 of us. 
    As Dad celebrates retirement, I am celebrating new beginnings in my career.  Along with the Green Piece Indy tip, I was published in NORTH Magazine this week with two articles.  My dream since college was to be published in a glossy magazine.  Somewhere along the way, my confidence plummeted and trudged along a sales path.  My sister, Beth, encouraged me to start this blog just to start writing again.  With this venture into the blogosphere, I gained the confidence to call myself a writer.  I used to say, "I am a writer...who doesn't write."  Now, I am writer who gets paid to write...that's all I ever wanted from the first day I stepped into Ernie Pyle Hall at Indiana University.  


Thanks to you, loyal readers and followers, for encouraging me in my dreams!


MOOSE UPDATE: 
The big boy is at home with Erin and Lilli while I am on vacation.  I waffled about bringing him here with me.  I had visions of him frolicking on the beach and playing with my little cousins.  Then I tried to picture the moment getting out of the car and trying to figure out what to do with him while we unpacked the car.  If it was going to be that troublesome from the jump, I knew it would be a rough week.  I miss him very much!

Guest Post from Erin E. Adcock (my roomie)

***Special treat for you all tonight...a guest post from Erin that pretty much encompasses a MOOSE UPDATE.  Maybe she'll finally become a "follower."***

May 1 2011

Good evening to all!  Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  Of course the weekend flew by and Monday is almost here.  I would like to share a little part of my weekend.  Meghan left for Chicago Saturday morning returning Sunday late afternoon.  I decided to take the dogs on a walk Sunday afternoon in between the wonderful rain storms.  As usually I put leases on and off we went, little did the dogs know where this journey would take them or how far they would walk.  We started our journey north on Central, of course Moose likes to stop at every tree, flower, rocks, wall, bush, shrub, whatever it maybe to let all dogs know he was there.  Lilli of course wanders alongside of Moose, trying to keep up.  59^th and Central comes about and it’s a good thing I brought plastic bags.  Being a good neighbor I picked up the goods and wondered how long it would be till I found a trash can, such a beautiful smell walking with a bag full of goodies.   Finally found one, Marco’s Pizza at College and Westfield.  At this point Lilli has the usual drool going on and Moose is still making his presence known on everything possible.   We are now on the strip in Broad Ripple. 

Today in Broad Ripple, Planet Adventure put on a road bike race.  If you are not familiar with Planet Adventure and enjoy sports, thrive off competition and a thrill seeker, I highly recommend you check out their website, www.planetadventure.com.   Opps got a little side tracked! We watched a little racing, said hello to a couple of friends and of course made a few new friends in the Rip.  Of course there is always at least one crazy guy on the strip, as we are walking past a bar one man says, “Can I buy your dog?”  Referring to Moose, I smiled and kept walking, again the man says, “That dog is so cool, how much?”  I smiled and said “he is not for sale.”  The man now yelling says, “I WANT THAT DOG.”   As I walked away I laughed and said “have another.” 

Lilli has a birthday coming up, Cinco De Mayo. She will be 10, yep she is my dog alright!  In honor of Lilli I took the kiddos to Three Dog Bakery to get some treats for the birthday celebration.  The employees at the Three Dogs were very kind and gave both Lilli and Moose a treat.  If any of you know Lilli, she has a “small” obsession with food, treats; basically anything she thinks is edible.  She refused to eat a treat there.  I don’t get it, but Moose reaped the benefits and had two treats! 

Now ready to return home, both dogs now are extremely tired, panting pretty hard, we are off.  Half way home, thank goodness I brought two plastic bags, I pick up Lilli’s goodies and proceed to carry the treats, the goodies and hold both dog leashes.  Normally this would be a little difficult since both dogs like to pull.  This time around I am pulling Lilli and tripping over Moose’s paws due to his slow stride.  A couple times I thought to myself, “should I tie their leashes to a tree, run home get the car and come back and get them?”  We continue to walk, slower and slower.  About 6 houses away from our house Meghan drives by, she stops to say hello.  I have to say thank goodness she drove by; it gave the dogs a little motivation to move a little faster!  Finally we made it home safe and sound, both dogs were pooped! 

As I sit here writing, I can hear Moose snoring in Meghan’s room and I know my dog is in the kitchen staring at the refrigerator obsessing over the treats from Three Dog Bakery.  I must say having dogs always makes for an exciting day.  I would not trade it for the world. 

Good night to all,

Erin E. Adcock

Rock of Ages

     I attended the Indy Social Media Club this week to hear Chris Baggott from Compendium Blogware speak and also to rub elbows...or is it shoulders...hob knob with a potential employer.  Broadway Across America Indianapolis attended and offered free tickets to Opening Night of Rock of Ages at Clowes Memorial Hall in a hopeful exchange for the attendees' digital love on all the social media platforms.  
    My sister and I climbed the stairs to Terrace 2 Right (free tickets!).  The nice usher offered us the Playbill and a theater-safe LED lighter.  We found our seats among the familiar faces from the SMC Indy event.  I imagine there were at least a dozen check-ins on FourSquare, but I wouldn't know for sure since I have been holding out on registering.  I attempted to tweet a picture of my radical new lighter with no luck.  Then the lights came down and the introduction called people who text during the show "douche-bags."  For real! I knew this show was going to bad ass from there.
     The two ladies sitting next to me dressed in their finest 80's garb and brought awesome energy.  We sang along to the best arena-rock jams, pumped our arms in the air, LED lighters in hand and thoroughly rocked out.  I don't think I knew the name to one song or if it was Poison or White Snake, but I knew every word to every song.  Rock of Ages was by far the most fun I have had at the theater.  At intermission, our whole row glowed with cell phones tweeting out the love for the show.  
     If you ever get the chance to see Rock of Ages, go!  


MOOSE UPDATE:

Moose guarding his sod.

     I scored some sod scraps Friday from the landscapers working at my new restaurant gig (I know, I can't keep up with these jobs either.)  My plan was to cover the lovely muddy mess outside the back stoop.  I thought I had a lot more sod than I really did.  It appears as a small area rug the mud.  But Moose loves it! As soon as we got back from our first walk today (yes, there were two!) he found the newly laid sod rug and started rolling around on it.
     He loves the sod. He was one with the sod.  He started to hold small pieces of it between his paws like a blankey.  It was the oddest thing I've seen him do.  I mean, he really loves the sod.