i'm not ignoring you, i swear

I'm beginning to feel like I am neglecting this blog.  

Truth is, I usually blog when something royally pisses me off (i.e. Wisconsin's dipshit governor - whom I just flick off whenever I hear or see him on various media) or when I'm trying to work out a problem/issue.  I guess it's a good thing that I'm lacking things to write about.  And quite frankly, I'd rather deal with an absence of a blog entry than the apparent alternative.  

(Note: for those of you who are shocked that I have nothing much to say - believe me, it's throwing me for a loop too.)

As a result, I've channeled that energy into work (as in MJ Care, SE Wisconsin Arts Guild and rjl creative), researching the latest design and social media trends and reading for fun (ok, I consider reading about sociology and social constructs fun...the sociology major rears its ugly head) - whilst attempting to maintain some semblance of an exercise routine and social life.  I probably should get back into painting and/or drawing at some point, but since the weather is nice those might be relegated to fall/winter pursuits.

Oh, I've also been playing with my new iPhone.  I could also ramble on about how much I love it, but that would probably bore you to death....

creative geek sheek

I often say "I revel in my creative geekiness".  Over the past few weeks, this couldn't be further from the truth.

It started with a phone call from my dear friend Dan - from the ICU at Froedtert.  Apparently, a pulmonary embolism will land you in ICU.  Yes, it freaked me out.   However, he asked me to essentially run Southeastern Wisconsin Arts Guild (SWAG) for the week he was in ICU.  And in the same (faint) breath, he promoted me to SWAG Vice President.  (note:  I personally never thought I'd be a vice president of anything).  In that one week, I learned quite a bit more about social media and running this little arts & culture information we've got going.  

The good news:  I was able to take what I have learned and apply it to MJ Care's social media sites, which I created and currently maintain.  Yes, I am becoming a little guru in this area.  And no, I'm not going to bombard you with the links.  The better news:  Dan is recovering at home and slowly getting back to work. 

I also created professional  Twitter account:  @rjl_creative.  I swear, I am not a tweet-aholic.  Why a new account, you ask?  The professional account shows potential freelance employers will see I keep abreast on issues and trends in the marketing/communications industry.  My original @beckerbean account follows many a political & social sites (read: Democratic Party & Hash House Harriers).  While I don't care if my friends know my views on politics or that I hash (because chances are, they already do), any professional contacts or fellow marketing communications folks don't need to know. Additionally, they don't need to know my random brain spew.  On the flip side, friends who don't give a crap about social media, design, marketing, etc. don't have to read about it (although I think you should anyway, even if it's just to humor me).  But really, it was to separate the professional and the personal.  

I also updated my resume to add the SWAG position and to match my website (news on that in a teeny bit).  However, I learned I really shouldn't do that at work.  Keith (my wonderful boss) saw me working on it Friday and this morning, he asked me point blank if I was looking for another job.  I had to reassure him that I was just adding the part-time SWAG position.  Apparently, he doesn't want to lose me as an employee - and I really didn't mean to freak the guy out.  Once he calmed down, he did say the design itself was "striking".  I will say, however, it is nice to be needed and appreciated. 

But the biggest news is that my rjlcreative.com site is complete!!!  I will admit that this will always be a work in progress, but all the links are up (and functioning) and it includes all the facets of what I do.  I still need to brush up on HTML/CSS, but I think I did pretty well with my trial-by-fire skills.  Now I just need to get out there and get some freelance jobs.

So if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm likely immersed in a graphic design or a social media site - or perhaps both.  But definitely reveling in my creative geekiness.

expression of faith

Our faith should be expressed in working toward a better planet for our children and not the selfish, juvenile hope for a better afterlife for ourselves. I don't think anyone is going to Hell because it only exists in the minds of people who wish ill-will on others. 

- Greg Graffin, PhD, lead singer of Bad Religion

The above-referenced quote eloquently sums up how I feel about faith.  I have always maintained that I believe in the basic foundations of Christianity:  charity (read:  supporting and/or helping others in need - volunteering or otherwise), respect for others (read: acknowledging that others have a difference of opinion, be of a different creed, religion, race or orientation -  but it doesn't necessarily mean they're evil or damned for eternity) and  the "golden rule" (read: I hope I don't have to explain this).  However, I don't believe current evolution of Christianity (rather, I feel it's regressed a few centuries, nor to I support its doctrine and the organization it has become.  

Thus, I question my own religious (or lack of) beliefs on a fairly regular basis.  Even as a teenager, I questioned the purpose of going to church - which would explain why I went to the mall instead.  To use the cliche:  going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car. I  feel many  people use attending church to profess their faith and to validate that they are a good person.  It begs the question: why must one go to a service to profess one's faith?  Shouldn't one do something worthwhile for humanity rather than recite a creed in a church pew? (honestly, that seems somewhat cult-like to me).

A couple years ago, I posed the following, somewhat related scenario to my friend who is a professor of theology (for sake of argument, Jesus did exist):  

Let's say I have one hour per week to spare.  I can either go to church or volunteer in my community.  What would Jesus prefer me to do?

Her response:  Jesus would want you to volunteer. 

Mind you, this is not why I have been involved in a volunteer organization for nearly two decades.  Although I have told my parents more than once, "some people go to church, I go to Circle K/Kiwanis".   Dad has accepted this; Mom is waiting for me to attend church again. 

Now, I never got anything out of going to church (I think that's glaringly apparent).  However, volunteering is quite the opposite - helping those in need, fostering support for our fellow humans (and animals), working for the common/greater good and perhaps leaving the planet in better shape than when I got here.  

If you want to label that "faith", that's how I choose to express it.

most common words...

Apparently these are the words I use the most in my blog.  Interesting indeed.

nine months in....

Well, give or take a few days.  In nine months, I could have given birth.  But I guess trying to reach your goals is somewhat like giving birth - a long, painful process but worth it in the end.

So, with that being said here's the long awaited update...yeah right. (if you feel so inclined, you can compare it to the six-month check-up):

• promote/develop my freelance design "business" (using that term loosely) - I am convinced this will always be a work in progress.  The  rjl creative now has writing samples but still needs photos.  And a web graphics section. But I did get a freelance job...AND a part-time Director of Communications gig with Southeastern Wisconsin Arts Guild.  It's a start, but looking for more.  So if you know anyone that needs a graphics/communications person....(yes, my shameless plug).
• a MacBook -  If anyone would like to purchase one for me, it would be much appreciated. However, I think I should pay off my vein surgery bill first.  Donations accepted.
• take more photographs (those of the artsy, landscape variety) - I took photos of my dog.  He's cute.  Yet, Cayenne would not be considered a landscape.  Rumor has it spring is coming soon so this could change. 
• learn to play bass - I'm seriously beginning to question why I put this down as a goal.  I may have forgotten what a bass looks like.
• catch up with friends I haven't seen much in the past year -Yeah!  I'm doing this...thanks to to modern miracles of technology...plus the wonders of  Mexican food, Miller Park and alcohol.
• keep in touch with friends I actually see - I would like to thank Baker's Square, Brady Street, Wrigleyville and Tracks Tavern (oh, and beer) for making this possible.  I'll even see the hashers on 21 May....it might be warm enough to be hashing by then.
• visit friends in faraway places - specifically those in Florida, Arizona and Connecticut - who I keep promising I'll visit - Chicago is not considered a far away place, but I love it anyway.  Arizona bottomed out as the plane tix were too pricey for my liking.  I've heard nothing about Philly, and haven't even thought about Florida or Connecticut.  However, I might be going to North Carolina in September. 
• teleportation to see said friends and my nephews more often - Can anyone help me with this?  Please? 
• travel internationally without my mom - Aaah. 
• the adapter thingie that allows you to use your iPod in the car - It still works!  I particularly like listening to Ramstein's "Du Hast" as I drive through the ghetto.
• a Wii Fit - I changed this to a LCD-TV...and I got one!  Woo-hoo!  
• lose that last 20 lbs - Scale is an evil five-letter word and I will never like what it says.  Period.  However, I started boot camp ten weeks ago and recently realized I now have some semblance of ab muscles.  And I still wear a medium in some clothes.  
• manage my finances more effectively - If if wasn't for that damn $2700 bill that stupid insurance won't cover (because it's not deemed medically necessary... I call bs), I'd be doing better.  But still not bad.
• actually watch some shows I've DVRed -  I'm still really bad at this.  However, I watched two DVRed shows last night.
• become more involved with the K-Family again - I just have to pay my dues...but I got an e-mail welcoming me back!  Hoping to make it to a service project in the near future.  However, the CKI segment still continues to think I never existed.
• world peace (sorry I had to) - The death of Bin Laden won't bring world peace, but it eventually make the world a bit safer.  To manipulate a religion to spread a propaganda of hate is just wrong.
• instead of complaining about something, do something to change it - Ok, I still complain...but then I work on changing it. Yes, this is the same as six months ago.
• give up diet Dew - I seriously have not had any deit Dew.  But, I'm known to drink a diet Coke on occasion (or a rum & coke).  And sometimes coffee.  However as a former twelve-pack a day dewaholic, I'm still impressed. 

 

And happy cinco de mayo!

parental lessons learned

As most of you who read this blog know, the situation between my parents is fucked up to say the least.  If you ask me what their status is, I'll tell you "separated" although legally, they are still married.  However, Dad lives elsewhere but none of us knows where he actually lives or lives with.  I can speculate he lives either near Derwood or Annapolis and lives with his "girlfriend" - yet have no proof to back that up.  

Do I care that my parents are separated?  Obviously, I care but to be honest it was not a perfect marriage (not that there is one).  They had and still have their issues, but talking about things beyond the trivial is not the m.o. in my family.  Getting personal information is like pulling teeth.   If the outcome ends up being legal separation or divorce, it will affect my brother and I - but I think we'd much rather have something definitive than the bullshit that's going on now.  Besides, it already is affecting us.  I want them both to be happy and I'm fine with the final outcome, whatever it may be.  The road to that outcome has been relatively shitty (to Mom especially) which is really unfair to her (and to a lesser extent my brother and I).

But if anything good can come out of this, it's this: we can learn from our parents - whether directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally - even in the least ideal of circumstances.  

1.  Be open and honest about your thoughts and feelings.  I have been - and if something pisses me off you know it (but if I like something you know it too).   Now it's to a greater extent, but in a more "politically correct" way.  I've even spoken up at work regarding some practices that I think are "questionable" - a practice I did not engage in before.  I figure it's better to speak up than stew about it, because in the end keeping quiet won't solve anything.

2.  Go beyond the trivial.  I'm quite fluent at small talk - which has it's merits in certain circumstances. However, in dealing with family and good friends, I think it does need to go beyond that.  My weekly talks with Mom usually center around sports, but this week she told me about a recent medical issue (and I'm the only one she's told...baby steps).  Of course, she sometimes forgets things so she freaked out when I told her about my biopsy which was negative (again).  Now maybe I'll actually tell her about Lexapro one of these days....

3.  Appreciate the family you have.  They sometimes get on your nerves.  But in the end you love them anyway, even if you don't like their actions.  Make the time to talk to them.  If anything, this situation has resulted in talking with my brother more often (and it is usually beyond the trivial).  I do wish I could see my nephews more often, and perhaps will find a weekend to visit this summer.  I would visit much more often if I lived closer, which is why it pisses me off that Dad doesn't visit them except for birthdays and holidays.  Now I just need to conjure up the balls to tell him that (amongst other things).  As a result, (spoiler alert) the nephews will be getting an Easter package from their auntie.  And then I'm looking forward to my brother's visit in 1.5 weeks. 

4.  Cut the bullshit.  Life is too short and quite frankly, none of us need it.  Instead of covering things up or trying to be covert, just come clean.  It'll make life more enjoyable for all of us. 

Easter on the fb

Oh social media, what hath thee bestowed upon us now? 

This is the current "facebook challenge" going around:

During this couple of weeks before Easter, I am out to prove that my friends will repost, I hope I am right!!! Easter is not about bunnies and chocolate eggs. Let's lift up God's name and make a statement!! When Jesus died on the cross he was thinking of You and Me. If you are not ashamed to call Jesus Christ your savior, copy and repost. I'm not ashamed.

I call myself spiritual.  Raised Catholic, but currently don't follow a specific religion and I honestly don't foresee that changing in the near future.  And if I do, I definitely won't be Catholicism.  In some capacity, religion does some for some people (i.e. sense of community, feeling of belonging, prescribing to a common belief) - I'm just not one of them.  However, I do realize that I have friends and family who prescribe to religion and it is a large part of their lives.  While I may not necessarily agree with their beliefs, it's their prerogative so long as they don't try to shove their beliefs down my throat.

That being said, I find this facebook challenge well, uncomfortable.  I always felt religion was a personal thing that was better kept private and not proclaimed from the rooftops - or interwebs.  That's what irks me about this whole "challenge".  Plus, if someone was to post that "Easter is about chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs" I shudder to think about the wrath they would receive from "believers".  Because let's face it, in our society we question non-religious people in their beliefs as if they are deficient in some capacity but it's perfectly acceptable to have "Bible-thumpers" shouting scripture from every place imaginable (whilst picking and choosing what verses to adhere to and what not to).  That's wrong.  Everyone is entitled to his/her beliefs - and not shoving those beliefs down someone else's throat.  Period.

Besides, Easter is really about Peeps and Cadbury Creme Eggs.