So. It happened. I finally got attacked by the Christmas spirit. And I even bought a coupla presents. I checked the date - and lo-and-behold, I was right on schedule; December 15th as predicted. Have to admit, though, I'm still not so keen on the Christmas carols. I know, I know. I'm a scrooge. But at least I admit I'm a scrooge. I love giving gifts - just not big on holiday-themed muzak that starts creating ear-worms over Halloween weekend. Because, yes folks, that's when the assault started this year.
My excuse can be that I'm heading to the exotic world of India for the holidays. So, while worrying about how the dreaded Dysentery Diet is going to affect me...only to find out that Hannah's Hieney needs to bring its own toilet paper - ! - because it's just not available in India.getting various vaccinations, and collecting various packages and items 'round town for my mother (just ASK me about the "bag of babies" and the uterus - I dare you!), I haven't had much time to be feel-good and get in the mood. The Christmas mood, that is.
I did have time for reflection, though, commuting to work on my glorious L Train the other day. I've had a really good year. One that I can look back on and be really proud of. Proud for making the more difficult personal and professional decisions and following my heart. Proud of the woman I am and am constantly becoming. So incredibly proud of our little 6-pack of Worker Bees in the NY office...what a feat we pulled off, y'all. Certainly makes me excited to see what a more-settled 2004 will bring! Ah...the anticipation of my 30th year!
And of course, then there's you...the "general public," otherwise known as my nearest and dearest. Thank you. Not just for your support and friendship, but for your honesty and the swift kicks to the backside when I needed them. The hugs, the tears, the words, the love...it's all been welcome whether or not I've conveyed that to you. Yes, a lot of personal growth comes from within, but the unconditional support of a network - friends, family, et al - is invaluable. So, I feel a heartfelt thank you and reminder that you're the best is in order.
Thank you!
I was rereading an all-time favorite book of mine recently. The idea was to read it and mark all the passages that resonated with me in order to pass it on...a little insight into the heart and mind of me, if you will. (Yes, only mildly terrifying, I know!) I came across a passage that I wanted to share.
"Sometimes you meet yourself on the road before you have a chance to learn the appropriate greeting. Faced with your own possibilities, the hard part is knowing a speech is not required. All you have to say is yes."
Pearl Cleage, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day (p149)
It always reminds me of how scary it can be to see the "real" you - the you that you want to be, but you're not quite sure if you have the courage, the money, the qualifications, the _____ (insert insecurity here). It's frightening! But, you know what, it's also incredibly rewarding. And freeing. If there's one decision that I'm terribly proud of making in the
last year, it's that I took the leap.and found my net in New York. I followed my heart. And it petrified me - truthfully! But I listened the "voice" that said it was my path. I hope you listen to your own voices. They can be right!
So, I'm out. So is 2003. And, 2004, here we come! I'm excited on many levels. Stay tuned for pix from the Ashmore Excursion in India. Stay tuned for my marathon progress (oy vey!). Stay tuned for updates on the Romancing of Hannah. (slipping that one in there to make sure you're paying attention!)
Oh - in case I hadn't passed the word along, I've got a weblog - aka blog - goin' if you're interested in keeping up with my goings-on. Check it out: http://hashmore.blogspot.com/. Bookmark it and come back often!
Other than that, have a safe and incredibly happy holiday season.may all your dreams come true!
Much love and I'll see you in the new year,
Hannah
Kali & Maverick send canine snuggles!
Sunday, December 28, 2003
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Just remembered a compliment I got of late...
A good pal o'mine was telling me of his admiration for Pink - the rock star of all rock stars. He happened to mention that whenever she crosses his mind, her songs come on the radio, or she comes up in converation, he thinks of me. The actual thought that he gave me was "Huh. That's who Hannah would be if she was a rock star."
Nifty, eh? Well, *I* happen to think so...Pink's pretty damn cool - and a cutie patootie, too!
Just my thought of the moment. Thanks for compliment, Craw-dad!
Nifty, eh? Well, *I* happen to think so...Pink's pretty damn cool - and a cutie patootie, too!
Just my thought of the moment. Thanks for compliment, Craw-dad!
Monday, December 08, 2003
Snowy birthday to me! Snowy birthday to meeeeeeeeeeee...
Just as I suspected it might, 29 is – so far – turning out to be grand. Ok, ok, ok. So it’s only been 3 days, but still. My birthday week was great. It might have been slightly skewed in my favor because I was rather obnoxious about counting down to the actual day. For weeks. Hey, I love birthdays in general, but particularly my own. Even more so when it’s a “cool” number like 29; my last twenty. Representative of the last vestiges of youth – ha! I’m now the last age I’ll ever admit to…just like my grandma. Eternally 29. Wait. That won’t work…I want to be 30!
It started with presents mid-week (that arrived way too quickly for my mother’s liking) from the parental units in In-jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Yes, the package requested that I wait until the actual day, but it also had a “yeah right!” underneath…proving once and for all that mothers really DO know all. Or maybe it’s that I’m more predictable than I’d like to believe. Hmmm. Don’t know that I like that. Regardless…I behaved myself and only opened one of the three packages inside. And the birthday cards. (A decision couldn’t be made as to which one, so I got THREE! I love being spoiled!!) And the other presents sat on my desk. And sat. And sat. And tempted. And seduced. And taunted. And begged to be opened. No, really. They did! So I HAD to give in…I just had to. It wouldn’t have been nice. Heh.
That was Wednesday. Three days before the “actual day.”
Friday, I came into the office to find an Elvis in gold laḿe sitting on my keyboard…I do love me some Elvis! Hunka hunka burnin’ love just for lil’ ol’ me. The flip side was that I also had a Storypeople card – and a lot of y’all know how I just LOVE Storypeople. (If you don’t know about them, hurry yourself to www.storypeople.com and devour! They’re awesome!) My mom called and sang her goofy version of “Happy Birthday” – on speakerphone. But that part was unbeknownst to her…I told her later. I HAD to share. Priceless! So the day-before-the-actual-day got off to a fabulous start, too.
Until the snow. We ALL know how much I adore cold, wet, white, wintery weather. It’s my favorite. Bah humbug. At least this time, it wasn’t ME doing the moving…just Olive and her couch. (If you haven’t heard the stories of Hannah moving in every type of inclement weather, just ask.) The snow that had been predicted to hold off until the afternoon began earlier than expected…and kept coming and coming and coming. Luckily, we didn’t have to leave the office for food supplies as we’ve begun a fantastic Lunch Co-op where we take turns cooking for each other. So, we had yummy sammiches for lunch. Well, everyone else had one…but y’all know me. I had to have two. Stuffed. Beyond stuffed. Believe it or not, I didn’t catch on when Olive let us know that after a brief respite, there would be “dessert.” Really, I was blonde – for just a few minutes. ;-)
To preface, I’d been bummed earlier in the week because I’d been outvoted in my pecan pie option for our holiday dinner. So, I’m on the phone. Giggling, laughing, minding my own bidness. And then I hear singing. My co-workers are amazing! Simply the best, to borrow Ms. Turner’s words. They got me a pecan birthday pie…candles and all. How totally cute is that? Oh. But we didn’t have just the pecan pie. We also had the sweet potato and apple crumb options. Thank gawd for women that can eat! I had 2 pieces – shocker. We rock! And rolled ourselves out of the “cafeteria,” back to our desks…only to close the office at 4:00pm because the weather was just that hideous.
One would think that the good birthday WEEK would end there, especially with a dire weather outlook, right? Well, wrong. The rest of my birthday weekend was definitely all warm and snuggly and I was spoiled and cherished…and I loved every minute of it! Some of y’all know that there’s a new boy “sniffing around” (to borrow my mother’s phraseology). Well, he came into town to help me transition from 28 to 29. We ate and drank and played Scrabble (really!) and I dodged snowballs…and had a wonderful time “basking in the luxury of each other’s company” (HIS phraseology!). How mushy did that make my insides go? Alright, dammit. I admit it! It exists. The softer-side-of-Hannah is coming out; full-force.
And that’s that. Or at least all the details I’ll divulge about the rest of the weekend. Heh. The birthday week continues with cards and presents still trickling in…but there’s a whole year that I’m looking forward to. If the last few days are representative of the year to come, then I’m even more excited than I’d have anticipated. I work with some of the kindest, most thoughtful, considerate people I’ve ever encountered - worldwide. I’m in serious Like with a fabulous man who likes me just the way I am (which one never fully appreciates how rare and wonderful that is until you’re given the gift). I have a job that I know I’m lucky to have – not just from a professional perspective, but from a human growth one as well. And I have lots and lots and lots of people who I’m blessed to call “friends.”
Yes, I have to admit, I’m damned lucky to be me. Blessed 165% to have the people and life I have. Thank you for being a part of it, y’all! As always, thank you for helping me become the woman I’m supposed to do. I certainly couldn’t do it without you!!
Happy, happy holidays!
Hugs and kisses,
hannah
“Dreams that do come true can be as unsettling as those that don't.” - Brett Butler
“If you don't risk anything you risk even more.” - Erica Jong
“What I am actually saying is that we need to be willing to let our intuition guide us, and then be willing to follow that guidance directly and fearlessly.” - Shakti Gawain
It started with presents mid-week (that arrived way too quickly for my mother’s liking) from the parental units in In-jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Yes, the package requested that I wait until the actual day, but it also had a “yeah right!” underneath…proving once and for all that mothers really DO know all. Or maybe it’s that I’m more predictable than I’d like to believe. Hmmm. Don’t know that I like that. Regardless…I behaved myself and only opened one of the three packages inside. And the birthday cards. (A decision couldn’t be made as to which one, so I got THREE! I love being spoiled!!) And the other presents sat on my desk. And sat. And sat. And tempted. And seduced. And taunted. And begged to be opened. No, really. They did! So I HAD to give in…I just had to. It wouldn’t have been nice. Heh.
That was Wednesday. Three days before the “actual day.”
Friday, I came into the office to find an Elvis in gold laḿe sitting on my keyboard…I do love me some Elvis! Hunka hunka burnin’ love just for lil’ ol’ me. The flip side was that I also had a Storypeople card – and a lot of y’all know how I just LOVE Storypeople. (If you don’t know about them, hurry yourself to www.storypeople.com and devour! They’re awesome!) My mom called and sang her goofy version of “Happy Birthday” – on speakerphone. But that part was unbeknownst to her…I told her later. I HAD to share. Priceless! So the day-before-the-actual-day got off to a fabulous start, too.
Until the snow. We ALL know how much I adore cold, wet, white, wintery weather. It’s my favorite. Bah humbug. At least this time, it wasn’t ME doing the moving…just Olive and her couch. (If you haven’t heard the stories of Hannah moving in every type of inclement weather, just ask.) The snow that had been predicted to hold off until the afternoon began earlier than expected…and kept coming and coming and coming. Luckily, we didn’t have to leave the office for food supplies as we’ve begun a fantastic Lunch Co-op where we take turns cooking for each other. So, we had yummy sammiches for lunch. Well, everyone else had one…but y’all know me. I had to have two. Stuffed. Beyond stuffed. Believe it or not, I didn’t catch on when Olive let us know that after a brief respite, there would be “dessert.” Really, I was blonde – for just a few minutes. ;-)
To preface, I’d been bummed earlier in the week because I’d been outvoted in my pecan pie option for our holiday dinner. So, I’m on the phone. Giggling, laughing, minding my own bidness. And then I hear singing. My co-workers are amazing! Simply the best, to borrow Ms. Turner’s words. They got me a pecan birthday pie…candles and all. How totally cute is that? Oh. But we didn’t have just the pecan pie. We also had the sweet potato and apple crumb options. Thank gawd for women that can eat! I had 2 pieces – shocker. We rock! And rolled ourselves out of the “cafeteria,” back to our desks…only to close the office at 4:00pm because the weather was just that hideous.
One would think that the good birthday WEEK would end there, especially with a dire weather outlook, right? Well, wrong. The rest of my birthday weekend was definitely all warm and snuggly and I was spoiled and cherished…and I loved every minute of it! Some of y’all know that there’s a new boy “sniffing around” (to borrow my mother’s phraseology). Well, he came into town to help me transition from 28 to 29. We ate and drank and played Scrabble (really!) and I dodged snowballs…and had a wonderful time “basking in the luxury of each other’s company” (HIS phraseology!). How mushy did that make my insides go? Alright, dammit. I admit it! It exists. The softer-side-of-Hannah is coming out; full-force.
And that’s that. Or at least all the details I’ll divulge about the rest of the weekend. Heh. The birthday week continues with cards and presents still trickling in…but there’s a whole year that I’m looking forward to. If the last few days are representative of the year to come, then I’m even more excited than I’d have anticipated. I work with some of the kindest, most thoughtful, considerate people I’ve ever encountered - worldwide. I’m in serious Like with a fabulous man who likes me just the way I am (which one never fully appreciates how rare and wonderful that is until you’re given the gift). I have a job that I know I’m lucky to have – not just from a professional perspective, but from a human growth one as well. And I have lots and lots and lots of people who I’m blessed to call “friends.”
Yes, I have to admit, I’m damned lucky to be me. Blessed 165% to have the people and life I have. Thank you for being a part of it, y’all! As always, thank you for helping me become the woman I’m supposed to do. I certainly couldn’t do it without you!!
Happy, happy holidays!
Hugs and kisses,
hannah
“Dreams that do come true can be as unsettling as those that don't.” - Brett Butler
“If you don't risk anything you risk even more.” - Erica Jong
“What I am actually saying is that we need to be willing to let our intuition guide us, and then be willing to follow that guidance directly and fearlessly.” - Shakti Gawain
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Everybody Wins!
So, I'm volunteering. Not a shocker, I know. But I did want to let y'all in on a secret....it's really rewarding! Shhh!! Don't tell anyone. I certainly wouldn't want the world to find out that giving can sometimes be as good - or better - than getting.
Seriously, though, folks...I've "got" a little girl. Her name's Sarah and she's 8. She's in the second grade and she loves to read. I'm spending an hour a week with her...and we do "just" read. Pretty cool, huh? Those that know me well enough know that I'm a devout bookworm and that passing on my book addiction to kids is something I feel strongly about. Well, the passion for reading, but also literacy in general. So, for an hour a week, we do nothing but read. Ok, so we chat about families and life, but it's a reading-centered program. And I love it.
The program is called Everybody Wins and I'm sure it's in an elementary or middle school near you.
You should try it sometime.
Seriously, though, folks...I've "got" a little girl. Her name's Sarah and she's 8. She's in the second grade and she loves to read. I'm spending an hour a week with her...and we do "just" read. Pretty cool, huh? Those that know me well enough know that I'm a devout bookworm and that passing on my book addiction to kids is something I feel strongly about. Well, the passion for reading, but also literacy in general. So, for an hour a week, we do nothing but read. Ok, so we chat about families and life, but it's a reading-centered program. And I love it.
The program is called Everybody Wins and I'm sure it's in an elementary or middle school near you.
You should try it sometime.
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