Rules.

I've been feeling out of sorts lately, but I've also been feeling really guilty.  Guilty I'm not working harder to find a roommate, or a new job, but mostly that I haven't been blogging.  The goal was to blog everyday, and cross one thing off the list a week, and since I haven't been doing that I feel bad.  The silly thing is, I made up those rules.  I'm the one who decided how much the blog, and how to do it, so what does it matter if I take a mental health week?

I think we all do that in some way or another.  We self-impose huge expectations, and then when we don't/can't meet them we feel bad.  About ourselves.  For breaking the rules.  The rules we made up in the first place.

So,  this week, I'm hoping to blog more, but also vowing to take it a day at a time and try to do just one (or two) things a day.  (kind of like a mini-52weeks.)  Also, if I don't get something done, or I don't blog, I'm not going to stress about it too much.  Think of this as my re-entry into 'normal' blogging / getting things done life.

Here are a few of the things I want / need to do:

1.  Catch up on the blog (specifically the true love posts)

2.  Update my Acting resume, and my professional resume.

3.  Find a roommate.  (My place is amazing, its available the middle of May / beginning of June... e-mail me about it.)

4.  Send out a few headshots and resumes (actor stuff)

5.  Get an oil change.

6.  Reply to an email or two from Match guys.
7.  Make a revised 52weeks list, so I don't have to be at a loss for what to do next.

No pressure, but I'll feel much better when all of these things are done!

So, maybe my life is a little out of control.

HolyOhMyGodLifeSlowDown...

Whew, o.k. now that that's out of the way... I'm feeling a little overwhelmed right now.  Maybe 1 part overwhelmed, 2 parts rudderless, and 1 part panicked.  Last week was one of those weeks where everything made me worry, (job, roommate,life,finances...) and I felt like I didn't know which thing to deal with first.  (Aaaaaand if I focused on just one thing, I was totally ignoring the three other things, which stressed me out even more.)  I'm feeling a little better now, but you've got to accept my apologies for not opening my computer even once to blog.    Here's the deal, I owe you a post or two about how finding true love went, I'll give you an update on the epic party my roommate and I threw, and I'll catch you up on how I'm catching up / getting ahead this week.  I'll post a few more tonight, so check back, but mostly, send me some good energy, or pray I don't lose it :)

e-mailing.

I'm not totally sure why I'm posting this, and chances are I may take it down before you even read it, but here is an e-mail I sent out last night:
(the subject was true love.)

Hey friends!

   So as you guys know I've been spending the last 2 weeks trying to find true love as an experiment for my blog, I've tried a few different things, and am hoping to try a few more.  Here's the thing, the speed dating event I was going to got canceled, and I'm in need of a little help.  I need a date.  A blind date.  For this Thursday, or Friday.  How's that for forward?  I'm looking for someone to grab a drink with, see if we hit it off, and see what happens good or bad.  I'm e-mailing you guys because I trust you, also because you may have a friend or two I haven't met, and most importantly because if they are friends with you, they must be cool. :)  Let me know what you think!

~Shannon

52 weeks.

www.fiftytwo-weeks.blogspot.com

As always, I'll let you know how it goes...

date bait.

 

This is Cash.  He's about the best 6 year old English lab on the planet, and while he's not mine, he was staying with me this week, so I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather, and his charming dog looks, and use him as date bait.

I borrowed a dog.  Pumped him full of treats.  Paraded him around Welles Park.  All in an effort to find love.

Yep. I did that.

Saturday turned out to be a total wash, but mostly due to poor planning.  I took Cash for a super long walk around my Roscoe Village neighborhood in the afternoon.  While most people we saw were impressed and awwwwed over him, those people were mostly pregnant ladies. (dear universe, you're hilarious.)

I was determined to make Sunday count, so I showered, I put on make-up, I did my hair for a perfectly done with out trying look.  Cash and I headed to Welles Park.  Bring on the dudes.  The problem with Sunday was that it was hot, like 80 degrees humid hot.  Cash is black, I have bangs.  By the time we got to Welles I was a wilted shell of my former bait like self, and all Cash wanted to do was lay in the shade far far away from all the shirtless dudes playing soccer.  Turns out the only shade at this park on this particular day was directly next to the kids playground, specifically next to where all the strollers were parked.  (dear universe, now you're just being a bitch.)  So, if you count picking up pregnant ladies, the occasional hot dad pushing a baby jogger with his 3 kids, or the one drunk lady who followed us 2 blocks, then maybe Cash and I did o.k.  But really, operation date bait was a wash.

On to the next one...

message in a bottle.

 

 

 

 

Dear Love,

I am waiting here patiently for you.  If you could hurry up and find me, I could stop worrying you'll never come.  I'm not looking for anything extravagant, just you and me and a few inside jokes, someone to be there when I need it, and to take care of me even when I think I can do it alone.  I promise to do the same for you happily, lovingly, and always.

Yours,

Shannon

Match.

So, today's adventure in finding love is brought to you by the internet and my friend Kyle.  As we speak, I'm letting Kyle write a profile for me to post on Match.com.  From start to finish I'm giving him carte blanche to do as he pleases, say what he wants, and choose who he thinks is best for me.  I've had the idea of totally giving over control of a profile to a guy friend for a while, so I'm interested to see how this works out.  

It seems like now a days everyone and their mother has tried on-line dating, knows someone who has, or in my case, will soon be going to another wedding of a friend who met her husband via the interwebs.  Full disclosure:  I actually tried match a few years ago, but just to 'meh' results.  With Kyle as my ghost writer, and my much more inquisitive attitude, we'll see how this time goes.

Here are a few of the parameters I decided on, just so we're all on the same page.  I'm going to keep the profile up for one month and see what comes of it.  For the first 5 days, I'm not going to contact anyone, I'll just let them come to me.  Kyle is literally doing everything.  I texted him my email and birthday, but from there it's up to him.  He's choosing my user name on up to what pictures get posted, and what I'm looking for in a guy.  I promise to be totally honest and keep you guys posted on what happens! 

speaking of love...

O.k. friends, this week is a big one!  Not only am I finally back at the computer, and catching up on my life after being gone for a few days, but this also marks the start of a week that's taken tons of planning and that I've been looking forward to for a while now.  Also, just so you know, I'm taking this one seriously, and since one week seems like I might be rushing things, I'm going to dedicate 2 weeks to getting this job done!  (I'll also be blogging through the weekend to keep you updated.)  So, without further adieu:

This week(s) I'm going to find true love.

Find. True. Love.

For something that is as simple as a spark, it seems pretty elusive, so for the next 14 days I'm going to try a few different ways of finding it, or figuring out what it really is, or both...

what's new. 13

This week's goal was to volunteer, and while I found somewhere to do that, I haven't yet had the volunteer experience.  So, if you don't mind I'm going to save this one until Saturday afternoon when I get back from spending the morning reading kids books ad doing crafts.  I'll keep you posted on how it went and what I learned.  Also, this way will give you something to look forward too!

ADDENDUM!

You guys I had so much fun this Saturday morning!  My friend Ann and I ended up at a Brenneman Elementary on the Northside working with first graders on their reading and then working on some art.  The kids were hi-larious, they worked really hard and created some awesome art, and did I mention it was suuuuuuper fun?  Over all, I have nothing but good things to say about this whole thing.  The kids took turns reading aloud (with our help), then there was a fun worksheet, and then we made posters and books.  I highly recommend this one for anyone looking for a super easy and fun way to spend 2 hours on a Saturday volunteering.  I'm going back on the 30th, so if you're interested, let me know!

Here are a few other things I learned for the week:

-The Chicago cares website is soooooo easy, you should use it.  Like right now.

-Its is very easy to help, if you do something you're passionate about.

-If you're volunteering with 1st graders, when all else fails, talk about Justin Beiber.

-Really, the idea of finding somewhere to volunteer seemed overwhelming, but so many people need help right now, there are opportunities everywhere.

-I have not gotten as much accomplished on a Saturday as I did after getting back from Brennemann.

-Volunteering is easy, just do it!

I love you New York.

This weekend I made a really quick trip to New York for work.  It was kind of a whirl wind of early flights and longish days, but I had oh so much fun sprinkled in.  I got a chance to walk around and relax, I had dinner with a good friend, and of course- I got cannoli!

I hope you had a great weekend too!  Enjoy the pictures :)