Causerie

Falling

We continue to have beautiful weather.  Most of the leaves have gently fallen to the ground, but I've notice that there are a few trees that still remain full. And it's that tree and those leaves that offers us a visual object lesson.  You see, no matter what --- strong winds, changing of the seasons, cold nights ----the leaves continue to hold on.  Some might say it's defiance, but I believe it's determination.  Persistance.  Hanging in there. Good lessons for us all.

 

Sir Richard

 

Miss P.

 

Bugga Bear  

So Much Going on all at the Same Time

Mama is so perceptive.  She left a comment on the birthday post about my starting a new job vis-a-vis the lack of a new blog entry and she was right. I've been at work (I can't tell you how weird that sounds).  They needed to get me in their system and to sign the paperwork even though it's all done on computer now. 

Today I spent six hours watching company dvds and tomorrow I'll watch another four.  Now-a-days, it's mandatory, I guess.  I learned so much about the company though,  and safety precautions and the gajillion different variations on how to ring up a purchase.  Much has changed since I was in retail management.  And, yes, there was even a section on blogging.  I've gotta be careful from here on out. (wink, wink)

What else?

Oh... we are not going over the river and through the woods to Ma's house for Thanksgiving.  I'm going to cook.   

And there's Black Friday.  I'll find out tomorrow if I will have to work.  Can you imagine a newbie on Black Friday behind the counter?  That alone should make anybody with any kind of common sense stay home.

Overdue library books.  And fines. 

Sir Richard's other band will perform their first gig Saturday night.  Practice Friday. 

At the urging of Bugga Bear, Mr. Man will hang outside Christmas lights this year.  I'm thinking, tacky, tacky, tacky because I believe that if you don't have the money to do it up right, then don't do it at all.  You know what I'm talking about ---- those houses with the one single strand of non-blinking lights wrapped around a sad little tree in the front yard.  (That'll be us)

Birthday Tiramisu cupcake.  A very nice surprise.  And the perfect size just for me.  

BlogAversary

 

Around this time last year, I wrote my first Causerie post.  It was the beginning of high expectations and dreams of grandeur.  I thought I'd soon have a worldwide readership and many advertisers jamming up my in box with their pleas to be featured on the front page. I thought this blog would quickly finance, not only private school for my children, but the occasional Caribbean vacation as well.  Of course, that didn't happen.

Early on, I decided to write almost every day because, to have a successful following one had to do such things, I'd read.  And while I continued to worry about readership stats, I soon began to realize that the more immediate and challenging obstacle was for me to find my voice and a rhythm.  "What's your blog about?"  people would ask, and my answer was always the same, "I'm not sure."   I didn't know how to define Causerie.  I wasn't sure there was a box it would fit in.

Certainly not a "mommy blog", nor a "religious blog", or even a "lifestyle blog", I quickly learned that in order to differentiate itself from the millions of other blogs, Causerie's content had to be something worthwhile. Something that made people think.  Something that required people to ponder the possibilities, reality, truth and just every day life.  I wanted to "speak" and to not just write.  I wanted conversations to continue long into the night once you had logged off.  I wanted friendships developed and nurtured.  I imagined internet camaraderie with those you might not necessarily befriend if we all lived in the same town --- sort of a virtual "crossing the tracks". 

You can imagine my surprise when Meredith left the very first comment..  I thought for sure she'd figured out that I didn't know what I was doing and I'd never hear from her again.  I was wrong.  Meredith emailed me with suggestions on how to make this a better blog and over this last year, she has continued to inspire me, support me and just make me laugh.

When Elizasmom left the second comment, I thought maybe, something might be happening.  She found Causerie by way of Meredith's blog.   Eliza and Eliza's mom's antics soon became part of my daily blog reading and after a while, via this blog, I became acquainted with Eliza's grandmother, "Mama."  Immediately, I decided that if I had the chance to have two moms, Mama would be the other one I'd want.

And while I'm talking about moms, let me say this about my own mother, Winifred (Ma).  For the longest time she didn't understand the concept of blogging, let alone this one. I continued to invite her over for conversation and a chat, but she just didn't get it.  Finally, one day I showed her how it "works" and she's been coming over every since.  With grave concern she keeps telling me though, "You need to find a way to save these little stories you keep writing."  

Along the way I've lost a few readers; but, in their place, I've picked up some new friends.  We got to know Marie and we were able to share her journey as she struggled with infertility; And, I believe we all rejoiced ---  some of us with tears --- when she finally became pregnant. And now, through this virtual Causerie living room, we all wait with anticipation for the arrival of this child. I love that.

And Robyn introduced herself not too long ago.  She and I share many of the same beliefs.  She's bold (not pushy) and certainly not ashamed to tell you what she believes.  I so admire that in Robyn. 

Tea and Honey Bread, a wonderful blog by T. Allen-Mercado was added to my blogroll without haste because when Tameka writes, her posts are almost always thought-provoking. Plus she makes great jewelry.

It wasn't Twitter or Facebook that was instrumental in re-connecting me with my long-time, long distance friend Jacqui.  It was Causerie.  So now she has settled in comfortably, leaving great comments and it feels like the closest thing to being there (just like the commercial says).

Stopping over by way of "More Cheese" is how Kate landed here, I think.  She's friends with  Marie. (See how this is working!)  Kate can take an everyday situation ---- say, like a pair of shoes --- and can make the conversation delightfully wicked and hilarious.

And Kelly keeps me grounded.  She is my voice of reason.  Her blog helps to remind me of what's really important.  Her kind and gentle words continue to direct me back when I stray too far off the path.

Over this last year I've invited several others over to join us and some have dropped in for a seconds, others have lingered a bit before moving on and still many more have declined the invitation.  Well... that's okay, isn't it?  I'm learning that what we have here --- this little community --- is really what most bloggers are trying to achieve any how. That something different, that thing which is meaningful, that one thing which somehow, someway, is able to make you sit down, to stay a little while, to join the conversation and from time to time to even visit one another (literally, for some of you).

Causerie has been and continues to be a journey with some detours and a few concrete steps to climb.  But, friends, once you get here, the door is always open.

Interview Update update

The "dress code" is to wear all black.  So I dressed the part (thanks for that advice, Mama) and I had my interview with Mr. So-and-So.  We were both very relaxed. 

As we chatted, I continued to say things like "If I am hired for this department... blah, blah, blah."  "And if you believe I am qualified to work in that department... blah, blah, blah."  After about 15 minutes into it, I said, "If you hire me for... blah, blah, blah"  and he stopped me in mid-sentence and said, "Dina, I want to hire you now."

The pay is awful (I mean really awful) but, at least I won't have to get gum out of someone's hair  And it's a seasonal job, so come January, I'll probably be unemployed again; but, that bridge I'll cross when I get there, right?

So friends, thanks for all of your wonderful support and advice. I couldn't have done it without you.

Interview Update

I wore my cutest skirt, long-sleeved blouse and the pumps with the not-too-high heels.  Sans perfume (just a tiny bit of body lotion on my arms and legs),  I arched my eyebrows, plucked my whiskers, put on the light coverage foundation and a tiny bit of eyeshadow.  With my beloved dreadlocks twisted up into a very stylish up-do and my shoulders back (just like my Mom taught me)  I walked into that interview like the job was already mine.

As we concluded, Ms. So-and-So looked at me with a smile and said, "Well, Dina, I'd like to hire you; but, you will need to interview with Mr. So-and-So."  Mr. So-and-So was gone for the weekend.  He'll be back Monday.  Ms. So-and-So will call me Monday morning.

Stay tuned.