Natalie Burg's Blog, page 9
December 10, 2013
White Kids Rioting
As an MSU alum, I'm always irritated to hear about the student body's unending affinity for rioting after sports. I don't know if it's the fact that I'm getting older and my perspective has changed, or if the fact that this trend that started when I was in high school is still going on despite the fact that I'm old enough to use the phrase "I'm getting older and my perspective has changed," but whereas I used to be all, "Meh, some dummies rioted," I am teetering on outrage about this last one. 
December 9, 2013
The right goodbye at the right time
The same photo has been the wallpaper on my phone for years now. Gunshy in a bow tie was the obvious choice before he died last May, and it never even occurred to me to change it. Until yesterday. I might have gone on gazing on my departed little boy a hundred times a day indefinitely, but another baby boy showed up in my family this week, and everything in the world has changed. When my sister shared a photo of herself and her two-day-old son at home in front of the Christmas tree, my heart exploded, my brain fell out of my head, and all I wanted to do with the rest of my life is stare at that baby.
December 4, 2013
Ok, chaos. Fine.
There is a certain degree of chaos that I deal on a daily basis. If you've met our dog Lois, you know what I mean. But there's also chaos involved with any type of freelancing, which varies from day to day, but is always around to some degree. Sure, being a freelancer frees you from the overbearing boss and demands for your presence that aren't necessary, but those annoyances are replaced by others. And generally, chaos is the theme of most of them.
One day recently, I was yelling at Lois for licking the dishes in the dishwasher (which she always does, despite always being yelled at for it), and I thought, "Why isn't Lois allowed to lick the dishes?"
f
One day recently, I was yelling at Lois for licking the dishes in the dishwasher (which she always does, despite always being yelled at for it), and I thought, "Why isn't Lois allowed to lick the dishes?"
f
December 3, 2013
Tiny celebrations for tiny victories. Super tiny.
About 20 minutes ago, for the first time since about Saturday afternoon, I felt caught up. Not finished for the day. Not ahead. Just not drowning. I celebrated by brushing my teeth. I've got big plans to take the party grocery shopping in a few minutes (seriously, I'm sort of passionate about grocery shopping. Super pumped about it). After that I'll buckle down and doggie paddle through the rest of the day.
I don't mention this to enter the I'm-busier-than-you fray, because I abhor the glorification of busyness. I feel lucky to be having a busy month, but I have slow months too, and moderately-paced months. I mention it because I believe in the power of celebrating tiny victories. In fact, I think it's a necessity. Too often we're so focused on long term goals - buying the house, paying off the student loans, getting the big break, winning at life - that we wait too long between celebrations. And it's exhausting to be always toiling and never celebrating. Celebrating is fun. If we're not finding reasons to celebrate, even tiny ones, then what are we doing with our lives, people?
I don't mention this to enter the I'm-busier-than-you fray, because I abhor the glorification of busyness. I feel lucky to be having a busy month, but I have slow months too, and moderately-paced months. I mention it because I believe in the power of celebrating tiny victories. In fact, I think it's a necessity. Too often we're so focused on long term goals - buying the house, paying off the student loans, getting the big break, winning at life - that we wait too long between celebrations. And it's exhausting to be always toiling and never celebrating. Celebrating is fun. If we're not finding reasons to celebrate, even tiny ones, then what are we doing with our lives, people?
November 25, 2013
At least there’s this.
I have one more story to write. It's 10:47pm. So...probably not going to finish it. I haven't unpacked since I got home from being gone yesterday. House needs vacuuming. Never made it to the gym today. Lois got a very sad, short walk. I got a lot done in the last 14 hours, but not everything I wanted. Sorry, world.
But "write blog post" is on my to do list. And I'm doing it. Done.
Sometimes you just need to check off one more thing.
And post a Lois picture. She's ready to pack it in too.
But "write blog post" is on my to do list. And I'm doing it. Done.
Sometimes you just need to check off one more thing.
And post a Lois picture. She's ready to pack it in too.
November 22, 2013
The Work/Life Balance Blur
I'm sitting in my mother's living room, trying to get some work done. It's hard here. Not just at my mom's house, but in my small hometown in general. I was born in Tawas City and grew up here. I feel like a kid here, always. I drink my mom's Diet Cokes without fretting about the aspartame. I roll through stop signs. I nab dog toys from my dad's vet clinic, and nobody seems to care. Nothing counts here, but in a good way. It's like the magical protective dome of my childhood is still in tact and waiting to receive me each time I return.
November 18, 2013
MISSING: 8 Books, Inventory Management Skills
This tweet passed through my Twitter feed this morning:
The Importance of Being (Slightly) Arrogant -- It Makes You a Better Writer http://t.co/KfhFeJ8gwM Guest column via @donnagambale
— Writer's Digest (@WritersDigest) November 18, 2013
I read it, and my first thought was, "Yup. That sounds about right." Far be it from me, a writer, to pile on to the stereotype of the arrogant writer, but let's be honest. None of us writers would be writers if we didn't feel like the insides of our brains were so interesting that everyone would benefit if we transcribed our thoughts and then charged people money to view them. So...right. I wouldn't say I, or most writers, suffer from a lack of self-confidence.
The Importance of Being (Slightly) Arrogant -- It Makes You a Better Writer http://t.co/KfhFeJ8gwM Guest column via @donnagambale
— Writer's Digest (@WritersDigest) November 18, 2013
I read it, and my first thought was, "Yup. That sounds about right." Far be it from me, a writer, to pile on to the stereotype of the arrogant writer, but let's be honest. None of us writers would be writers if we didn't feel like the insides of our brains were so interesting that everyone would benefit if we transcribed our thoughts and then charged people money to view them. So...right. I wouldn't say I, or most writers, suffer from a lack of self-confidence.
November 15, 2013
Don’t Freak Out Friday
It's rough caring about so much shit all the time, amiright? Life gives enough personal tough stuff, and then society comes along throws a bunch of other stuff at us.
For instance, as my husband can attest actually happened a few months ago, sometimes you're having a fine day and then you find out the Right to Life of Michigan is using insane, backchannel legislative methods to push an extreme, anti-choice bill into law, even though our Republican governor already vetoed it, and you have a complete emotional meltdown. Other times, there's another shooting in another public place and you can't even. You can't even. Sometimes you read a headline about another female celebrity bragging about how she's not a feminist, and it takes over the rest of your day with rage posting. And other days you are so freaked out about the yelling and screaming over Obamacare that you can't even yell back anymore, you just want walk into traffic, even though that would result in medical bills so high you would be financially ruined for life because everyone won't stop yelling about making healthcare affordable and not stupid, OH MY GOD, HILLARYHURRYUPANDSAVEUSFROMTHISALREADY.
For instance, as my husband can attest actually happened a few months ago, sometimes you're having a fine day and then you find out the Right to Life of Michigan is using insane, backchannel legislative methods to push an extreme, anti-choice bill into law, even though our Republican governor already vetoed it, and you have a complete emotional meltdown. Other times, there's another shooting in another public place and you can't even. You can't even. Sometimes you read a headline about another female celebrity bragging about how she's not a feminist, and it takes over the rest of your day with rage posting. And other days you are so freaked out about the yelling and screaming over Obamacare that you can't even yell back anymore, you just want walk into traffic, even though that would result in medical bills so high you would be financially ruined for life because everyone won't stop yelling about making healthcare affordable and not stupid, OH MY GOD, HILLARYHURRYUPANDSAVEUSFROMTHISALREADY.
November 14, 2013
MacBooks, horror movies and the serenity to accept all of the things or whatever
Watching horror movies, like taking shots, is something I realized in my early 20s that I hated and didn't ever have to do again if I didn't want to. So I'm coming up blank when trying to think of the name of a movie in which the main characters are supposed to die in a massive plane explosion, but somehow get out of it, but then death chases them around and tries to reclaim them.
Now that I think about it, this may have been the very movie that made me say, "Nope. I'm not doing these anymore. Horrifying death isn't entertaining to me," so that's probably why I've both blocked out the details and think about it fairly frequently. I bring it up now because...sigh...a death my MacBook escaped two years ago has come to caught up with it. That's right. I just Final Destinationed my computer. (OK, I Googled it.)
Now that I think about it, this may have been the very movie that made me say, "Nope. I'm not doing these anymore. Horrifying death isn't entertaining to me," so that's probably why I've both blocked out the details and think about it fairly frequently. I bring it up now because...sigh...a death my MacBook escaped two years ago has come to caught up with it. That's right. I just Final Destinationed my computer. (OK, I Googled it.)
November 13, 2013
The Joy of Waiting
I'm about to have an idea. Don't ask me how I know it, I just do, and I'm super excited about it. I'm also about to have a nephew, and my vocabulary isn't deep enough to express how thrilled I am about his new human who is about to be my favorite human who has ever existed. I'm actually excited about a number of pending things, which shouldn't be an unusual thing to confess, except that it is. Because it's not just that I'm excited about things that I'm waiting for, but also that I'm actually enjoying waiting for them. And that is new.
