Dragons and Stuff

I've been doing a LOT of writing these past few weeks on the upcoming Chinese New Year Monday. Actually, festivities start tomorrow night, New Year's Eve. This year is the year of the water dragon. I'm almost to the point where I feel like I know more about Chinese culture than I know about Romanian culture. That's pretty sad, but part of the job. :) I'm a fulltime nerd. I love learning new things, and right now, looks like I'll continue to learn all sorts of things about the Chinese culture.Writing about the Chinese New Year and what the Chinese zodiac means has me thinking about this year.

I have made some changes. Late last year, I decided that I was going to start seeing a therapist to work through everything that happened in 2011and stay healthy mentally. Other than my sinuses, I have a clean bill of health (thank God!). So I wanted to make sure that I stay healthy in every way possible. There is this stigma to admitting going to counseling or seeing a therapist. And honestly, I think it's safety check. We internalize so much and it can affect us in ways in odd ways. I feel myself growing and maturing. And yeah, I thought I was pretty good before I started going. And for the most part I was fine. I think going to therapy is helping make sure 2012 is awesome.

So dragon years are known to be very lucky. In fact, parents time the birth of children around dragon years. People born in dragon years are successful, lucky, wealthy, and natural leaders. That's not to say that other Chinese zodiac animal suck, because they don't. For instance, I'm wood rat. People born in 1984 are wood rats. It sounds awful, but it's not. If you're curious about what all this means, Google it. You know I've had to in order to write all the articles and blog posts. Anyway...Dragons are good. Rats are good. Every sign is really-- good. I don't think any sign can be really horrible.

Anyway--so according to the Chinese zodiac, 2012 will take on traits of the water dragon. Dragons, as lucky as they are, can also be destructive and implusive. So many people will have a little bit of a hard time this year. And I'm instantly thinking of my friends and former coworkers where I used to work. Many of them will be out of work as of March 31, 2012. So far, 2012 for some has totally sucked. And after reading all sorts stuff, I'm not surprised. But the rest of the year holds semblance of hope. Get the bad out of the way early and have the good later. By the way, if anyone knows of online marketing jobs (SEO or PPC) in St. Louis, contact me. It makes me sick knowing that my friends might be facing some not so fun times ahead.

For many people, 2012 will be awesome. Of course right? It's been awesome for me. And my friends who've had a hard year last year are seeing the light. I'm definitely more confident. Last year, I compromised a lot. That's not to say compromise is bad. I just chose the wrong situations to compromise on. For instance, I'm not going to compromise in what I want out of a life partner. I did that and it turned out badly. I'm not going to be shy about getting what I want anymore either. If I deserve something (because I work hard for it), I'm going to make sure I get it.  Oddly enough, the water dragon is known for compromising. This chic however, will only compromise in certain situations.  :).

I have a few things in my line of vision at the moment. I'm working super hard (odd hours) to make sure I accomplish goals this year. My goal is to cross a few things off my list by June. And at the rate I'm going, I will. Anyway...I promise no more predictions about 2012. Just know it will be an interesting year.  :)

Not Going for the Record

So if I spend too much time away from my laptop or cell phone, I get twitchy. My friends make fun of me for it all time. If I go anywhere, I checkin on Foursquare. If I'm waiting in line, I get on Twitter.  And on weekdays, I like to work...a lot so I'm in front of my computer by 6 at the latest. I get to work super early. And when I get home, I work on my friends' websites until about 8 or 9, sometimes later.

The word of the year at the office is "passionate" because all of us are pretty passionate about our jobs. I think I take that to a slight extreme because I come home and continue working.  But my passion for online marketing is wearing me out.

Last Thursday, I spent 16 hours in front of a computer. When I was getting my MBA, I think I spent an average of 10. But now, I can get to work as early as I want. Back then, I couldn't get in the office until 7. If I feel like getting in at 5, I can. I like it because I catch up on industry news in the mornings.

And then I come home and work some more (not necessarily remoting in)  about 8 or 9. I'll randomly check my email or website stats after that. Or I'll write a blog...or an article.

Yesterday I spent 14 hours in front of a computer. And then I got harassed by mom for not getting enough rest. So no, I'm not going for a record. Although it won't surprise me if I do go over 16 hours, especially once I start class.

I am getting tired. But on weekends I don't spend nearly as much time working so I get somewhat of a break.  And I think I'll probably get a break tomorrow with the Internet Blackout strike against SOPA. I am going to try and spend less time online. We'll see if I have it in me to unplug.

Smiling Pooches Ruin Cake

Since I deleted Smiling Pooches, those blog posts will be now be here, on Smiles and Rants. Work was so productive today. I looked forward to being productive at home too. My guy friend was coming over to work on his website, Noah's Arcade. I had some Cruse Entertainment stuff to do too.

So I got home and let the dogs out. I changed out of my business casual duds and checked on the Beagles. Sure enough, Peaches overturned the neighbors trash and got all over the porch. I'm used to this by now. But this is twice in two days. 

So the dude and I work on some keyword research for his website and hung out. I was explaining keywords and the strategy behind it. It was nice to share with him what I do for a living. I love my day job so much, I do it at home too. I think after two years, he finally understood part of what I do...kind of. It's excited...I'm excited.

So while we work, we take breaks for dinner and I start making a dark chocolate torte. I'm in a chocolate cake mood so I was going to make it for the office. My dear work peeps get all my baked goods when I'm  in the baking mood. I don't think they mind. :)

They torte was done...layers finished ready for the last layer of cream. Lyn was with me in the kitchen, she got under my feat, and I tripped. The cake didn't survive. But such is life.  Looks like there will no cake tomorrow. I think I'll make pie tomorrow night instead though.

A Big Smile at Laughing Man

I have been quite lucky so far in 2012. One of the many highlights of this week is Laughing Man. They are the nonprofit coffee company who donates 100% of profits to charity. They're going to donate a hat to the Madison County Child Advocacy Center trivia night. It's in the mail :).

Laughing Man found me on Twitter after I posted a tweet asking about a new coffee distributor for my office. Sorry Starbucks, but you're service sucks. We weren't getting deliveries on time and we can't have that with an office full of coffee snobs. So Laughing Man did what any good company using Twitter does. They monitored keywords and reached out to people who they thought would be their target market.

So I checked them out and fell in love immediately. I love companies that give back to make the world a better place. And that's what Laughing Man does. One person at a time, one day at a time, they make the world more beautiful sharing love and generosity. Plus, their slogan is  All Be Happy -- I think I heard angels sing. :) I would do my famous "Ahhh" in my soprano singing voice which sounds pretty good, but that would be silly since you can't hear me.  :).

I was convinced I needed to buy my coffee from them. I'd be supporting a company who promotes smiley faces and all things wonderfully happy. Plus, they help good causes. And they're coffee is really reasonable. I pay more for my coffee now.

So then I had a brilliant idea. I asked if they'd be willing to donate to the Madison County Child Advocacy Center Trivia Night February 25th. They said yes! An All Be Happy Hat is on it's way to the center.

I'm going to repeat myself a little bit for my new readers. The Madison County CAC is amazing and the staff and multi-disciplinary team holds a special place in my heart. You see, I was one of those kids who was subject to routine beatings. Only, I didn't have a CAC to help me through it. I had to tell my story multiple times. It was quite painful. But what makes this CAC so wonderful is that kids only have to tell it once because interviews are recorded. That recording gets viewed by health professionals and legal staff. The child gets all the help they need, plus their abusers pay the consequences. These poor kids get justice.  I believe in everything the CAC does which is why I suport them. I donate items every year to the trivia night silent auction. So when others donate too, especially when they're not even local, that just makes my heart smile.

So I want to give Laughing Man a great big virtual hug for donating to the CAC and making the world more beautiful with their generosity.  There is so much negativity in the world today that it's refreshing to see a company focused on sharing some love.

Now, do yourselves a favor and visit livelaughingman.com and support them with a purchase so they can continue to serve others.  Oh...and you may find it interesting that Hugh Jackman is associated with Laughing Man. He helped start it.  So now you really can go add a pound of coffee to your cart or buy a hat :).

A Smiling Pooches Beginning to 2012

What a New Years! I about flipped out just a little when I got a call from my mom in the afternoon of New Year's Eve. My stepdad was in the hospital for his heart. He has a-fib, but he's doing fine. At the moment, I felt like 2011 was taking one last jab.

But ringing in 2012 was actually nice. Me and the guy had reservations at Drunken Fish. It was fabulous. We got the same waiter we had on my birthday, Bill. I told him I wanted something fizzy and fun and he came back with the Kinky Kimo. It was yummy. Dinner itself was nice. Together, we're sarcastic and goofy. He's a total dork, and I'm a total dork so it was an interestingly funny dinner.

We went home fairly early and cuddled with the dogs and watched a movie. I felt like 2012 was going to be different...perhaps it was wishful thinking. But either way, ringing in 2012 with this particular young man was nice. We're good friends and no matter what happens, it will be good :).

Our dogs played together all weekend. Peaches is normally independent and a bum. But this weekend, she livened up...a lot. She played with his dog and was all about showing me and the guy some love too. Today for instance, she jumped on my lap while I was working in office. She hasn't done that in ages! It made this Beagle mama smile.  The best part of the weekend--cuddling with all three dogs on the couch when he was out. I had one dog by legs, one guy to my right, and one to my left.

2012 will be awesome. The Smiling Pooches and the guy made this weekend awesome. I'm looking forward to all the fun and new experiences 2012 has to offer.