I've been working fairly hard this year at not procrastinating. Sometimes that works for me, sometimes it doesn't. I was asked to present a keynote address at Ball State University to the Communication Studies department on their alumni day. It's a real honor, and an opportunity to give back to the university where I learned how to be me. It's been very interesting reminiscing the past few days as I put together my presentation. I'm really making an effort not to procrastinate on this one... so I've been using my train commute in the mornings and afternoons to work on the slides that I'll be speaking to.
This is a major departure for me. Typically I wait until the last minute to accomplish things. But this new-found energy is coming from that deep down part of all of us where we never get tired waxing the nostalgic. I've been thinking about the people who have had a major influence in my life, both professionally and personally. My time at Ball State was wonderful and difficult at the same time. I learned who I was, developed new abilities I didn't know I had, and met some wonderful people who have continued to be in touch (whether on Facebook or in real life) for the past 15 years. All this nostalgia is also making me think of High School and the looming 20-year High School Reunion from PHHS - also a place where I started my journey of self discovery.
So, I've been talking with people about putting together the reunion, planning this speech, thinking deeply about who I am and when I changed from the sweetly naive kid I was to the cuddly and sarcastic adult I am today. Through it all, I'm feeling like the focus on ending my procrastination is helping to bring out the best in me, not only professionally, but also personally. I'm getting involved in things like I used to do... I'm communicating and planning more. I feel like 2012 really is the end of the boring me and the beginning of the Tyson I've meant to be for so long. So, what are you waiting for?
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Getting a little soft around the middle...
Yes, I'm a little bit pudgy, but that's not really what I'm talking about today. What I mean by getting a little bit soft around the middle has more to do with losing stamina and general malaise than being portly.
Yesterday was my Grandma Swift's 92nd birthday. An incredible woman, who has accomplished so much in her lifetime! Most of it stems from her mantra, "Get up, get dressed, and get your shoes on!" It sounds simple enough, but how often do we lay back, relax, and go barefoot? We tell ourselves that we've worked hard during the day or week and so have earned some rest on the nights and weekends. But in reality, we're doing ourselves a huge disservice.
Have you ever noticed that the busiest people seem to do so much more? I know that sounds silly, but what I mean is that people who tackle more and more agenda items in a day seem to accomplish more and more outside of work too. I find myself trying to clear off my calendar, not plan things too much, and generally just go with the flow. But then I find myself on Saturday mornings (or afternoons) still in my pajamas with little to show for the time I've been wasting. Now, there are extremes... I know people who can't even get away from work when on vacation in foreign countries, but this is more about getting active, being more present, and experiencing more of what life has to offer.
I don't want to be "that guy" who is always declining fun and excitement anymore. I want to have activities planned, be a little busier, and make the most of each day. Then maybe I'll accomplish more. We've charted a "one-thing-a-day" tack for a few years and I think it's made us unable to have the stamina to accomplish more than one thing in a day. Of course, some of this comes to discipline (and y'all know I'm not the disciplined type) but still I think it comes down to planning and follow-through.
So, it's time to work the "core" of my calendar and start stretching myself a little more. Maybe setting the alarm on the weekends instead of waiting for Phineas to "cock-a-doodle-doo" us awake is a start.
As my grandma always said, "Get up, get dressed, and get your shoes on" - that's a sure fire way to keep yourself from getting too soft in the middle!
Yesterday was my Grandma Swift's 92nd birthday. An incredible woman, who has accomplished so much in her lifetime! Most of it stems from her mantra, "Get up, get dressed, and get your shoes on!" It sounds simple enough, but how often do we lay back, relax, and go barefoot? We tell ourselves that we've worked hard during the day or week and so have earned some rest on the nights and weekends. But in reality, we're doing ourselves a huge disservice.
Have you ever noticed that the busiest people seem to do so much more? I know that sounds silly, but what I mean is that people who tackle more and more agenda items in a day seem to accomplish more and more outside of work too. I find myself trying to clear off my calendar, not plan things too much, and generally just go with the flow. But then I find myself on Saturday mornings (or afternoons) still in my pajamas with little to show for the time I've been wasting. Now, there are extremes... I know people who can't even get away from work when on vacation in foreign countries, but this is more about getting active, being more present, and experiencing more of what life has to offer.
I don't want to be "that guy" who is always declining fun and excitement anymore. I want to have activities planned, be a little busier, and make the most of each day. Then maybe I'll accomplish more. We've charted a "one-thing-a-day" tack for a few years and I think it's made us unable to have the stamina to accomplish more than one thing in a day. Of course, some of this comes to discipline (and y'all know I'm not the disciplined type) but still I think it comes down to planning and follow-through.
So, it's time to work the "core" of my calendar and start stretching myself a little more. Maybe setting the alarm on the weekends instead of waiting for Phineas to "cock-a-doodle-doo" us awake is a start.
As my grandma always said, "Get up, get dressed, and get your shoes on" - that's a sure fire way to keep yourself from getting too soft in the middle!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Incarcerating your kids...
We've all been there - you have a project or chore to do, but the kids are getting into things and keeping you from getting what you need done. Most parents have tried the "let's take a nap" approach to getting the kids out of the way, but that only works if your kids are in a crib (crying the whole time) or borderline narcoleptic! You are naturally going to feel guilt, remorse, and you'll turn in your application for "worst parent of the year." But, the important thing to remember is that these moments can be important for your kids as well. It can teach them to be independent, engage in imaginative play, and it's a whole lot better than letting them roam the house or yard totally unsupervised. The key is to engage with them from time to time, check on their progress, and let them know that you are there. If you have kids with separation anxiety, the last one is key!
Of course, there's always getting the kids involved in the chore (which I do when baking or picking up the living room) but the other day I was working on cleaning up the bathroom construction project (picking up sharp tiles, heavy tools, and messy tubes of caulk - things that Phineas' little hands are not meant to touch.
What to do... what to do? I ended up putting Phineas in the bathtub (dry) with a bunch of foam bath toys. This let me get most of my accomplishments done until the point where Phineas found a waterlogged toy and poured it all over his socks. All in all, I got a solid 30 minutes of work done, while Phineas had a good time. You may be asking where Declan was... he was on PBSKids.org playing a computer game. He traps himself!!!
Making sure that your child knows where your are (and that you can keep an eye on them) is important.
Other forms of "incarceration" Sarah and I have used over the years are:
Of course, there's always getting the kids involved in the chore (which I do when baking or picking up the living room) but the other day I was working on cleaning up the bathroom construction project (picking up sharp tiles, heavy tools, and messy tubes of caulk - things that Phineas' little hands are not meant to touch.
What to do... what to do? I ended up putting Phineas in the bathtub (dry) with a bunch of foam bath toys. This let me get most of my accomplishments done until the point where Phineas found a waterlogged toy and poured it all over his socks. All in all, I got a solid 30 minutes of work done, while Phineas had a good time. You may be asking where Declan was... he was on PBSKids.org playing a computer game. He traps himself!!!
Making sure that your child knows where your are (and that you can keep an eye on them) is important.
Other forms of "incarceration" Sarah and I have used over the years are:
- Putting the kids in the empty Kiddle Pool while we pick up sticks and weed the flower beds
- Buckle the kids into their car seats while we wash and clean out the car
- Put the kids in the "way back" of the SUV while shoveling the snow on the driveway
- Buckle the baby into a bouncy seat at the open front door while we raked leaves in the front yard
- Put the Bumbo on a blanket in the shade while planting flowers
- Move the high chair to the kitchen while preparing a meal
Monday, January 9, 2012
Sweating the small stuff... I hate sweating!
If you've known me awhile, you probably know that I detest sweat... (as a big man it's inevitable in the warmer months - between February and November), but more than that I find myself getting hung up and frustrated by small things in my life. Whether it's Phineas' constant whining, Declan's not paying attention to the obstacles around him, or when I can't find the shirt that I want to wear. I've been accused (and rightly so) by many people of being emotionless... and for some degree that is true. I spent so much time in my childhood crying in my bedroom (fat, effeminate, uncoordinated, and loudly opinionated kids got picked on sometimes) that I try really hard not to let things get me down. So, when I was a Senior in High School I made a pact with myself. I would only get emotional at special occasions (weddings, funerals, births, and of course Disney/Pixar movies).
I wanted to focus only on the positive emotions - joy, laughter, love, etc... but lately I'm finding myself doing a lot of yelling and a letting my emotions take me to darker places than I want. This year has been a little stressful so far... we spent more money at Christmas than we should have, then my bathroom tiling project was $$$ I was not expecting to spend, then I just got 4 new tires on the car... so, mixed with having less money in Savings than I do in Checking, things have been stressful with the kids and Sarah. Our house has not rebounded from the holidays (new stuff, but no space) and that chaos is almost numbing... but at the same time it's so overwhelming that we don't know where to start. We've tackled some of the easier tasks, but we really need a solid day or two to devote to the house (preferably without the kids, who pick up whatever you put down or get out whatever you put away!). Now, the question is, "When?" Where do we get the time to do this? It won't be fun... but it will help us all be a little less stressed and on edge.
Also, in case you were wondering about the bathroom... it's almost done... I finished sealing the grout and caulking, but I broke the shower curtain rod this morning. So, no final pictures just yet!
In the meantime, I'm counting to 10, breathing slowly, and thinking happy thoughts... and despite wearing a sweater, there's no sweat today!
I wanted to focus only on the positive emotions - joy, laughter, love, etc... but lately I'm finding myself doing a lot of yelling and a letting my emotions take me to darker places than I want. This year has been a little stressful so far... we spent more money at Christmas than we should have, then my bathroom tiling project was $$$ I was not expecting to spend, then I just got 4 new tires on the car... so, mixed with having less money in Savings than I do in Checking, things have been stressful with the kids and Sarah. Our house has not rebounded from the holidays (new stuff, but no space) and that chaos is almost numbing... but at the same time it's so overwhelming that we don't know where to start. We've tackled some of the easier tasks, but we really need a solid day or two to devote to the house (preferably without the kids, who pick up whatever you put down or get out whatever you put away!). Now, the question is, "When?" Where do we get the time to do this? It won't be fun... but it will help us all be a little less stressed and on edge.
Also, in case you were wondering about the bathroom... it's almost done... I finished sealing the grout and caulking, but I broke the shower curtain rod this morning. So, no final pictures just yet!
In the meantime, I'm counting to 10, breathing slowly, and thinking happy thoughts... and despite wearing a sweater, there's no sweat today!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Bathroom Gate: Day 3...
Well... let it be said that I did not wait, stall, or go half-hearted into the bathtub project. I've officially taken my first two "floating holidays" of the year so far, and will need to take tomorrow off as well. I have not had a real shower since Sunday (it's Wednesday night now) and so I feel kind of gross.
My father has been awesome this week! His guidance and support has been amazing. Not to mention, we rarely get a chance to just be together one-on-one.
So, a few updates since the BBQ Pine incident:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
All totalled we have made 2 trips to Menards and 6 trips to the Home Depot in the last 3 days. Not to mention 2 trips to the granite place. Lots of work has been done, and still more to go!
My father has been awesome this week! His guidance and support has been amazing. Not to mention, we rarely get a chance to just be together one-on-one.
 |
| The boys think Papaw is here to play games...but I have other plans! |
So, a few updates since the BBQ Pine incident:
 |
| The blank slate... |
- Tore off all of the tile (could not find a match at the store)
- Scraped and patched the walls to make sure we had a smoother surface
- Re-built the shelf with treated lumber
 |
| Troweling, troweling, troweling... what a wonderful time indeed! |
- Painted the whole tub surround area with Red Guard (water proofing membrane - goes on pink, then dries red)
- Went to Home Depot and Menards in search of the right tile (ended up buying trim at Menards and main tile at Home Depot)
- Stopped off at a granite tile shop and ordered a shelf from remnant stock (huge money saver)
- Measured, planned, measured, calculated, measured, planned, and calculated some more
 |
| The Pink Lady |
Wednesday:
- Started putting up the trim pieces and some of the tile
- Picked up the shelf on Wednesday morning
- Put the rest of the tile up
- Began grouting the tiles
 |
| Loving the vintage feel of the subway tile and ceramic chair rail... It's just like being in the subway except there are no rats, urine stains, or homeless people singing... Okay, so it's nothing like the real subway, but it's cool and vintage looking! Mind the gap! |
 |
| All the tile is up, just waiting for the grout to magically fill the gaps. I put a trowel under my pillow and a $20 bill, so I know the grout fairy is coming tonight! |
All totalled we have made 2 trips to Menards and 6 trips to the Home Depot in the last 3 days. Not to mention 2 trips to the granite place. Lots of work has been done, and still more to go!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
It's a new dawn, it's a new day... it's a new house project for me!
It's official! This is the first post of the new year and the official start to my blog.
This year I'm finishing projects and the most pressing one is the brown spot on the living room ceiling (under the bathtub).
I was planning on just replacing some grout and re-caulking the bathtub, but it's so much worse than that! I popped off a tile and found that the underlayment for the tile was sopping wet and the consistency of spackle... oddly enough, because it was SPACKLE that had been wet for at least 6 months! More and more tiles popped off easily and the supporting 2x4 was the texture of BBQ pulled pork (minus the yumminess, but with 1000x the fiber!).
My neighbor Freddy stpped by to take a look and he removed even more tile and some of the backer board... what a mess! After 3 days of drying, the bathroom is ready for us to tackle. So, tonight Sarah and I are talking about how we want the bathroom to look, instead of how we want the brown spot to go away. We're thinking white, 3x6 subway tile in a brick pattern with a marble or granite shelf for shampoo.
Thank heavens my dad just retired last week and he's driving up first thing in the morning to help make this problem go away! While I am a crafty beaver, my dad is a true handy man!
Cross you fingers!
This year I'm finishing projects and the most pressing one is the brown spot on the living room ceiling (under the bathtub).
I was planning on just replacing some grout and re-caulking the bathtub, but it's so much worse than that! I popped off a tile and found that the underlayment for the tile was sopping wet and the consistency of spackle... oddly enough, because it was SPACKLE that had been wet for at least 6 months! More and more tiles popped off easily and the supporting 2x4 was the texture of BBQ pulled pork (minus the yumminess, but with 1000x the fiber!).
 |
| Note the tender morsels of pine, falling off of the bone. |
My neighbor Freddy stpped by to take a look and he removed even more tile and some of the backer board... what a mess! After 3 days of drying, the bathroom is ready for us to tackle. So, tonight Sarah and I are talking about how we want the bathroom to look, instead of how we want the brown spot to go away. We're thinking white, 3x6 subway tile in a brick pattern with a marble or granite shelf for shampoo.
Thank heavens my dad just retired last week and he's driving up first thing in the morning to help make this problem go away! While I am a crafty beaver, my dad is a true handy man!
Cross you fingers!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
This Year... (almost)
I've lived a comfortable, somewhat interesting life - filled to the brim with wonderful people. But, lately I've been feeling blah... ho hum... and very boring! This is my goal for 2012 to stop being borning, stop being a spectator in the lives around me, stop pushing things off until tomorrow, and start living life in the present tense.
So, here goes!
This year...
Love,
Tyson
So, here goes!
This year...
- I will lose the weight that I'm always saying I'm going to lose...
- I will become more physically active
- I will share my Gluten-free baking secrets and recipes
- I will spend time with my kids without yelling at them
- I will cherish my wife for the amazing person she is
- I will put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher (everytime)
- I will finish the projects I start
- I will start the projects I dream about
- I will call and visit people more often
- I will stop saying "I can't" or "I don't think it's going to work out"
- I will find my voice
- I will be creative
- I will clean up the messes after being creative
Love,
Tyson
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