h|month-terview (march '11): preview questions ...

#healthmonth ... we are continuing our get-to-know team CDWL@edi (aka Caloric Dolls Who Link at eco dork inn - an anagram - formed in december over here) through h|month-terview - a faux-interview of sorts, albeit truthful responses.

(SIDE NOTE: this our our team's add-on-fun, inspired by healthmonth and is NOT formally part of the on-line healthmonth experience. but hey! spurring on creativity is a good thing, too!)

previous h|month-terviews ... visit the past month's interview questions for january (based on the inside the actor's studio questions) and february (from my life, my card questions of a credit card company), and see some team members' responses for january and for february.

aigd's 20 questions ... this month's interview is poached from based on a 2006 american institute of graphic designers article of 20 questions, which i answered in 2006 over here. (i'll be (re)answering the questions.) want to know a little more about aigd? here is a little about them over here and an excerpt from their page -

"AIGA supports the interests of professionals, educators and students who are engaged in the process of designing, regardless of where they are in the arc of their careers. The disciplines represented in the profession range from book and type design through the traditional communication design disciplines to the newer disciplines of interaction design, experience design and motion graphics. In addition, AIGA supports the interests of those involved in designing from other disciplines, professions and business who share designers’ commitment to advancing understanding of the value of design."

and there is an SF bay area aiga chapter with various events, including the popular design lecture series and d.talks.
[OPTIONAL] share an image ... in addition to your health month image/pic that will be part of your h|month-terview post, feel free to share an image of a symbol sign - something that you may see everyday or something that surprised you. (yes, i'm assuming you have a camera phone or eye-fi for your camera.)

1. What talent would you most like to have?
2. What is the best book you’ve ever read?
3. Who is your hero?
4. What irks you?
5. What movie title could also be the title of your biography?
6. Where would you like to wake up tomorrow morning?
7. What’s the new black?
8. What will be your legacy?
9. What is the most consistent conflict you face?
10. What is the best snack food?
11. What is your most treasured possession?
12. Favorite artificial flavor?
13. What is your greatest fear?
14. You have an extra $100,000, whom or what will you give it to?
15. Crunchy or smooth?
16. If you could master two tasks at one time what would they be? (i.e., walking and talking, etc.)
17. What is the greatest invention of the past 100 years (give or take)?
18. What is the most beautiful word in the English language?
19. Animal, mineral, vegetable?
20. What’s next?

until the next
team CDWL@edi h|month-terview ...

f|break: sunday morn

comedy ... sid, the naughty bunny (on facebook, and over here on twitter as @cussingbunny), is among the pool of craig ferguson's puppets on the late late show. following a month after my sid fiber break over here (where he is usually doing the monologue), here's sid closing out the show.

enjoy your fiber break with sid (over here)
for ~ 1:34 min on the late late show

BAAHHHH!!

f|break: saturday morn slow-down reminder

from peggy ... a reminder to slow-down - mindfulness, kindness, and awareness. this reminder was sent from peggy, who back in early december was part of whirlwind 6 - cubeopolis training. peggy, who was our 7 habits trainer, has since forwarded to reminders for each of the 7 habits. we have come to our last reminder, habit 7 - sharpen the saw, and with that, she also sent a story.

slow-down ... peggy sent over the story about joshua bell. as featured in a washington post story, pearls before breakfast - can one of the nation's great musicians cut through the fog of a D.C. rush hour? let's find out (by gene weingarten, april 8, 2007), there was actually one woman who cut through the fog.

enjoy your morning fiber break in the d.c. metro (over here)
for ~ 2:36 minutes with joshua bell

forwarded from a friend of peggy ...

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold December morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that a thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced
them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour:

Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

enjoy a weekend of
mindfulness,
kindness, and
awareness

health month '11 primer

what (or where) is health month?

health month is an on-line healthy-habits and social game over at healthmonth.com. it is described by creator health month's buster benson in the origin story (over here) and about how to play (over here). here is my little post (over here) on being part of the monthly fun. individually or as part of a team, health month can and will make a difference! ask anyone who has been part of it for even 3 days.

where can one check it out?
there are four site where one can check out the fun -

• http://healthmonth.com 
• http://healthmonht.tumblr.com 
• http://twitter.com/healthmonth 
• http://www.facebook.com/healthmonth

who is part of shirlnutkin's team CDWL@edi?

first of all, our team name is an anagram for 2 rules that the founders shared in our first month - allow alcoholic drinks and cook dinner.

Team CDWL@edi, formed in 12/03/2010,
with carlito as our godfather.

second of all, to actually chose our team picture - well, that's another story. it involved the magic 8-ball and a total of four picture options (over here) from which to choose.  and third of all, we are simply a group of friends and friends of friends coming together.  in december, there were 3 of us. january brought two more members. and in february, we are rounding out with 7 members - progressing to encourage others to have fun with us!

• our mission - eat more plants and grains. eat less meat and carbs. have more fun. watch less tv. have fun with anagrams. (and boink?)
• requirements to be on team CDWL@edo -
  
  • DAILY DO smile at least to one stranger.  
  • DAILY DON’T roll your eyes.

you can go solo, form your own team, or if you want to join team CDWL@edi, keep it short to let me know via email, facebook, twitter, or as a comment on this blog post, and then i'll bring it to the founders to noodle on it. (wink.) if you want, you also can ask to be invited.

health month fun - a work-in-progress
with my nutshell monthlies, it is apparent that health month fun can (and will) be regularly posted. so a much easier way to share this will be in on this page. related posts have a label for health month.

• november '10 - signed up, sponsored a friend, and another friend also joined. thus, the beginning of our health month journey - 3 friends on the road to a healthier mindset and lifestyle.
• december '10 - we chose our team name and team picture.
• january '11 - with a month under our belt and complete excitement about another month, a description of how i'm integrating health month as part of a healthier lifestyle and my looking forward 2-weeks before february to scope out my rules. with two new team members, as an unofficial interviewer not-on-behalf-of-health-month-proper, all 5 team members shared a little about themselves based on some inside-the-actors-studio questions - meet january team members smiles, pho queen, spec girl (part 1), shirlnutkin, and hiccups (part 1). while learning a little about my team members, i also started to learn more about rules i selected - on gluten.
• february '11 - rolling into february with two new members, the founders decided to mix up our rules a bit. with pho queen, we shared our weekly red meat allowance early in the first week. i want to minimize and eliminate heart disease, hence the wear red day contribution and participation.

(last updated: 02/05/11)

yhd2011: time to recommit

the daily love ... i love #TDL over here, here on twitter, and here on facebook - created by mastin kipp (on twitter).

last year when i first got on twitter, my friend, reggie, shared TDL with me, and i've been hooked. i'd often retweet TDL or find myself saying something - or better yet - doing something that was shared through or inspired by TDL.


lately, it has been a mix of saying/doing and checking out the website. time to just get my TDL email. get yours, too!

thanks for the reminder, the daily love!

recommitting to 2011 goals ... yesterday's post, it's march 2011! time to recommit to your goals! was a fun quick reminder. mastin shared -

"So, 2 months have swept by and we have 10 full months left. This is a great time to look back at your New Year’s resolutions, check in with your intentions, review your goals and see where you are.

Have you kept your promise to yourself? Are you keeping a high standard for your goals, intentions and resolutions?"

and i shared my thoughts about this in a comment. (mastin mentions about his recommitting to his health goals, so needless to say, i shared about health month.)

recommitting and revisiting yhd2011 ... this immediately reminded me of my little tradition with your heart's desire. and this year, i'm approaching yhd a little differently - keeping some traditions, adding a twist, or adding something new altogether.

(tradition) i have a table with each of the 10 areas listed. this year, (a twist) i've gone back to my crazy paper-tracing paper (a few steps short of napkin-planning) and (new things) am using little apps on my phone - mind mapping with thinking space and taking notes and some journaling on springpad. (admittedly, i am not as consistent with springpad; note to self - get on it!) and with the pick the brain share of monthly goals, (new thing) this month's goal will be recommitting to yhd.

yhd check-in ... (tradition) i will do a quarterly check-in of my yhd2011 just to see where i'm at in the 10 areas - a qualitative check. with TDL's recent post, (a twist) i am going to switch it up and check-in sooner throughout the coming weeks. (tradition) half-way through (in june or july), i'll revisit yhd a little more formally. (new thing) however, i also will incorporate a little of the reverb11. sounds anal and structured, but for me, its' actually a more creative and fun process, especially with self-reflection from reverb11 (via reverb10). plus, with the many thoughts, goals, and dreams going on in my head that will see the light of day, it's necessary just to sit still with my yhd.

what goals are you recommitting?
what goals are you fine-tuning?
how are you celebrating your commitment?

thanks TDL for the reminder!

(by the way, i'm doing pretty well with my yhd2011,
HOWEVER, i do have to step up reverb10 beyond avoidance,
which happens to be my #1 yhd2011 (and achilles heel) - ah taxes!)

#love2011: week 9 on being over 40

celebrating age ... i remembered a note a friend, aurora, sent out a couple of years ago (april 2009) about an andy rooney piece. turns out the original piece was from in praise of older women, by frank kaiser (of suddenly senior). therefore below, i've copied the frank kaiser piece, AND the andy rooney piece.

either way - age always is something to celebrate, whether younger or older. when you are celebrating your age, you are celebrating you are alive. and in keeping with the love project, you have the opportunity to be loved and to love.

celebrate the love around you and celebrate yourself! check out yvette's 51 ways i celebrated turning 51.

in praise of older women by frank kaiser (over here)
© Copyright 2000 — Frank Kaiser

One of the perks of dufferdom is an increased capacity to appreciate people. Friends. Spouses. And, for me, women. All women.

When I was 20, I had eyes only for girls my age. Any woman over 30 was ancient, over 40 invisible.

Today, now in my 70s, I still appreciate the 20-year-old for her youthful looks, vigor, and (occasional) sweet innocence.

But I equally enjoy women of my own age and beyond, and every age in between. I've learned that each has its own special wonders, attractions, magic and beauty.

As I grow in age, I value mature ladies most of all. Here are just a few of the reasons senior men sing the praises of older women:

• An older woman knows how to smile with such brightness and truth, old men stagger.
  
  
• An older woman will never ask out of the blue, "What are you thinking?" An older woman doesn't care what you think.
  
  
• An older woman has been around long enough to know who she is, what she wants, and from whom. By the age of 50, few women are wishy-washy. About anything. Thank God!
  
  
• And yes, once you get past a wrinkle or two, an older woman is far sexier than her younger counterpart!

  Her libido's stronger.

  Her fear of pregnancy's gone.

  Her appreciation of experienced lovemaking is honed and reciprocal.

  And she's lived long enough to know how to please a man in ways her daughter could never dream of. (Young men, you have something to look forward to!)

• Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off that you are a jerk if you're acting like one. A young woman will say nothing, fearing that you might think worse of her. An older woman doesn't give a damn.
  
  

  ---

  “If the Lord made anything better than a woman, He kept it for Himself.” — Jerry Lee Lewis

---

• An older, single woman usually has had her fill of "meaningful relationships" and "long-term commitments." Can't relate? Can't commit? She could care less. The last thing she needs in her life is another whiny, dependent lover!
  
  
• Older women are sublime. They seldom contemplate having a shouting match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive dinner. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.
  
  
• Most older women cook well. They care about cleanliness. They're generous with praise, often undeserved.
  
  
• An older woman has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A young woman often snarls with distrust when "her guy" is with other women. Older women couldn't care less.
  
  
• Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to an older woman. Like your mother, they always know.

Yes, we geezers praise older women for a multitude of reasons. These are but a few.

Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal.

For every stunning, smart, well-coifed babe of 75 there's a bald, paunchy relic with his yellow pants belted at his armpits making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize for my fellow geezers. That men are genetically inferior is no secret. Count your blessings that we die off at a far younger age, leaving you the best part of your lives to enjoy and appreciate the exquisite woman you've become. Without the distraction of some demanding old coot clinging and whining his way into your serenity.

60 Minutes Correspondent Andy Rooney (CBS)

As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, 'What are you thinking?' She doesn't care what you think. If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting. Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it. Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated. Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart. Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her. Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?', here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!

celebrate age
and celebrate those younger and older around you!

(my past posts for week 9,
celebrating age - over here and here)

#love2011: random thoughts for week 9

celebrating age ... this week 9 love project assignment is allowing me to take a little short-cut and combine week 9 with dating.

but first, my random thoughts ... i've been thinking not only about celebrating age (my prime age) but the ritual of celebrating other recurring events, such as anniversaries, memorials, work anniversaries. those that come to mind have the more common measure of years past. i'm giving thought as to what are the other celebratory milestones that are NOT measured annually. still thinking beyond celebrating the end of a semester in college ... the second date that leads to a third date and possible fourth date ... others?

dating ... meanwhile, this morning i listened to yvette's sunday evening interview on the dating market place with nic & neely while getting ready to head to cubeopolis. it's a quick, informative and fun interview!

ah-ha ... celebrating dating and age! enjoy my little flashback to this past mid-january ...

"when i saw he was 41 years old ...
... i came to grips with my age - i'm 47 f*cking years old."
(over here)

and the outcome, by the way, was not a peep or acknowledgment from the 41 year old. however, i have since contacted a few other men younger than me. (note to self ... step up the meeting people.)

as for the flip side of dating someone older, i've done so back in the day when i was younger. i've met a few men who are older than me.

enjoy these reasons to date an older man
(from my 30-year old friend),
which means a man 48 years or older.