Sharp Around The Edges

New Challenge!

2010-02-11T22:54:31Z

One of the fun things about being an Army Family is that you get to move – a LOT! And, in our case, you get to move all over the place. Every house is a new organizational challenge.

This house is no exception. The problem is, as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, I really have no excuse other than the children. So I’ll be taking on a new challenge over the next few days (with! pictures!). I’m going to organize my house by applying Lean Six Sigma Methods – 5S, Visual Controls, etc.

My goal is to spend 60-90 minutes in one area every day on a 5S activity and photograph it when I am done as the visual control piece. The visual controls will hopefully serve as checks for the children on whether their chores are done well enough. Wish me Luck!

Know What This Is?

2010-02-09T18:04:59Z

If I could be anything instantly right now, it would be a better photographer. I’ve got a decent little camera and sometimes it does a really nice job. When it doesn’t, I know it’s the photographer’s fault. I’m playing with settings and stuff and making a bit of progress.

One of my secret (well, I guess it’s not a secret now, is it?) amusements is to channel my inner child and take pictures of totally random things. This is one example. We were at Solo Point the other day and there’s a train track there. Several trains passed during our short trip and as I looked over at these, a thought crossed my mind. This is totally a picture of dueling robots. What does it look like to you?

Maybe the imperial guard protecting the entrance to the park with their big lighted swords? Be a little ridiculous. It will instantly brighten your day.

Share your Opinion

2010-02-08T20:39:33Z

Can’t Catch a Break? Take One Anyway!

2010-02-06T15:45:05Z

I’m up to my ass in alligators, kids, issues, illness and frustration. I never want to blog about that stuff but it’s been so all-consuming. It’s time to move on. When all else fails, I shall entertain you with pictures.

It’s hard to find any place more beautiful than the Pacific Northwest. Seriously.

This picture is of the Olympic Mountain Range. I was headed up to Port Orchard for a play date (which I highly recommend all moms have periodically, BTW) and as I headed down from the house the view was stunning.

Here are the rest of the pictures from my play date.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

So the pieces of advice I leave you with today are 1. Always make time to capture moments that take your breath away – like the mountains. 2. Mom Play Dates are mission-critical. When is the last time you grabbed a friend and took a day for yourself?

10 in ‘10

2010-01-27T19:16:42Z

It’s long overdue, I realize, but here are my New Year’s Resolutions:
1. Earn my first dollar as a blogger. If one of you wants to send it to me via Paypal so I can check that off, I’d appreciate it. There’s a box in the sidebar.
2. Lose 100 Pounds. I’ve created a weight loss challenge within the FRG to work on this.
3. Finally learn a Foreign Language.
4. Read and Finish one book per week. Read about what I’m reading here. And I’m open to recommendations.
5. Finish a Speed Reading Course. I started one and got my speed up to 1200 words per minute. Imagine what it will be if I finish!
6. Complete the 3Day. Again, there’s a sidebar button to donate if you’d like. Please!
7. Raise my GMAT over 700 so I have more programs to pick from. I’m applying to my top choice now but would like a fall back.
8. Have an outdoor adventure.
9. Take a pottery class. Yes, the kind with the lump of clay and the wheel.
10. Take time every month to do something for and by myself.

What are your goals for 2010?

7 Reasons Why I’ll Never Write a Parenting Blog

2010-01-20T14:33:13Z

1. La Reina
2. Squidward
3. Ogre
4. Bratticus fka The Queen (Yes I know they both have the same nickname. Now ask me if I care.)
5. The Czar
6. The Emperor
7. The Khan

2 hours to a great day!

2010-01-08T18:26:07Z

After MONTHS! MONTHS! I tell you of fighting with my blog dashboard to the point of infinite frustration, I have it fixed. SATE is BACK! You know it’ll be awesome.

Get Creative

2009-09-17T19:46:51Z

I have been put in charge (again, like always) of the Family Readiness Group for 1SG’s Reserve unit. Actually, the entire battalion, not just HHD. Nice huh?

Maybe you don’t know what FRGs do but in a nutshell they’re designed to get families connected and provide resources and information related to the Army, Army Reserve, Benefits, Entitlements, blah, blah blah… It’s a great concept. I think an FRG can be a very good thing. I’ve just never seen it. Hopefully this one will break the mold.

Part of our task as an FRG is to stage events like a Christmas Party and a summer family picnic which takes money. Potentially, it takes lots of money. The problem lies in our fundraising constraints. The rule says that any and all FRG fundraising must be within and among the members of the FRG. We have to keep putting our hand in the same set of pockets if you will. We can’t do bake sales or soup lunches either unless the food is all cooked in the Reserve Center. Asking for outside donations is also out. We can accept them, but we can’t ask for them. Makes total sense, right? Because we all know donors crawl out of the woodwork ALL THE TIME.

So what I am asking from you is for some unique, fun and successful fundraising suggestions. What have groups you’ve been involved with done in the past? I will reward any suggestions we actually use with a $5.00 Starbucks card.

Redirect

2009-09-11T16:26:14Z

I was all geeked up to blog about the great time-suck known as Facebook but now I’m very frustrated! I wish someone could tell the gods at Wordpress and Mozilla what their blog updates have done to Sharp Around the Edges and how it is affecting the fragile mental state of yours truly.

HONESTLY people! It’s called Beta Testing. Now my blog dashboard is all jacked up and in Times Roman font (which I hate and will explain in another blog) and it’s making me insanium. I can’t fix it and it won’t fix itself.

It looks like my plans for today just got made.

1. Fix stupid blog.
2. Take nap
3. Watch tv with the gents this evening.

Go. Me.

Peace

You Put One Foot in Front of the Other…

2009-09-10T20:23:24Z

I will admit it is a crappy version of the song but it signifies my current mood. For the last several months, I have focused on what can’t be done instead of what can be done. It’s odd because the way I interact with myself is exactly the opposite of the way I am with any and everyone else. If a friend of mine had my attitude, I’d probably have slapped it out of her.

So starting this minute, instead of thinking about what can’t be done, I’m going to make a conscious effort to be positive. Instead of thinking that there is nothing to do, I’m going to do whatever it takes to convince me that I have 24 hours in a day with ANYTHING to do. That means more blogging ’cause it’s therapeutic and giving more of my energy to Discover Indies and my family because they deserve it.

What do you know? The therapy is working.

Today’s thought: My actions will roar while my words whisper.