I am still in a food coma after an amazing Thanksgiving at the Friedle’s house. Since none of us had family in town, Jed and I, Jacqui and John, Brittany and Jacob went to Christina and Ben’s house to celebrate the occasion together. Add in the bonus of a birthday celebration (Happy Birthday, Darra!) with cake furnished by Darek and it was a Thanksgiving unlike any other I’ve had.

When Christina and I sat down with our plates, we shared a thought on what we’re thankful for this year. It got me thinking: How lucky am I that there are SO many things for me to choose from!

• I have a fantastic new job waiting for me in 2009.
• Obama got elected, thus my faith in America! has been restored.
• This past summer I had a unique opportunity: For three weeks, I was simply Nyco Fuentes Herzog the daughter and sister. Never in my life will that happen again.
• I got to hang out with Pawly for almost the entire month before her death.
• I’ve overcome a lot of adversity in 2008. For that I’m stronger.
• Jed and I have never been happier.
• My two remaining baby teeth are still firmly in their sockets.
• We’ve made some great memories. Check the Photos page to see what I mean.
• My friends are amazing people who make me laugh. Really hard.

Here’s an example:

Yeah, that’s me laughing. I laugh all the time now. That, I think, is the greatest reason for me to give thanks this year: 2008 will go down in history as the year I found myself. Thank you, everyone, for indulging me as I muddled through.

Now, care to share what you’re thankful for?

Yesterday I walked 5 miles. I didn’t do it for the exercise; rather, I chose to travel to a coffee shop in Southeast Portland on foot because I wanted the time to think and be by myself. Life is so full of information, of stimuli, of reasons to talk or be talked to. A walk is an opportunity to control, or just to make sense of, all of that.

I’ve heard a few people say that they do their best thinking while driving, and I too have had my share of epiphanies behind the wheel. Just ask my mom. She usually fields my phone call after a realization smacks me in the head. But, driving in the city is the opposite of soothing; and driving without purpose isn’t exactly the “it” thing to do nowadays. Plus! Driving isn’t free, walking is.

Aside from the opportunity to let the mental wheels turn and save a little coin, walking let’s me observe more. Until I walked 50 blocks worth of Burnside Street, a stretch I would normally opt to drive or bus, I had no idea how interesting it was. I had time to stop and look in shop windows; to pause and take pictures of interesting scenes. All of that stuff goes whizzing by while taking motorized transportation.

Finally, I find walking to be my favorite pastime because it gives me a reason to be alone, to move at my own will and whim. That may be a counter-intuitive statement, given the fact that my stomping ground is a trafficky city brimming with cars, buses, trains, tractors, pedestrians, cyclists, homeless people, and all. But consider this: When walking, a person is in charge of her/himself and no one else. While operating a vehicle of any kind they become part of a system, and their actions and the actions of others are interdependent. Take that same person and put them on a sidewalk with nothing but their feet to move them and suddenly they’re free to choose their velocity, stopping points, routes, and most importantly whether or not they make an effort to interract with anyone.

Safety isn’t a concern. Portland is a relatively crime-free city, and as long as I don’t go poking around dark places and watch for idiots I’m perfectly out of harms way. Besides, if walking around Portland is the most dangerous thing I do… Well, you get the point. Worry and stress kills more people than going it on foot ever will.

If you’re a frequent visitor to this website, two things:

1) THANK YOU

2) You’ve probably noticed that it’s changed around a bit.

I’m not a web designer nor a programmer. But, that hasn’t stopped me from tearing into the css and html that makes Look, Something Shiny! feel and function the way it does. Over the past two weeks I’ve learned a lot by breaking, remaking, and rebreaking just about every component of this website. And I won’t claim to be an expert, but what I will say is that I’m hungry for more!

That said, I’ll ask for your patience as I continue to work on this website. But check back later today, as I’ll have new photos and such to share!

Some people pay me cash, while others reciprocate with cookies or meals or beverage. I don’t insist on being compensated for my time, because cutting hair is a hobby for me. It’s like knitting a hat and then giving it to a friend because you know it will look amazing on them.

My love of cutting hair led me to beauty school at one point, but I quit after I won a school-wide contest for cut and color.

The pressure brought on by that huge accomplishment was not the reason I left: I realized after winning that competing with other stylists for clientele, product sales, recognition of talent, etc. was going to be a daily part of being a hair stylist. And I don’t like the idea of succeeding by stepping on other people, nor do I enjoy the emotional drain of trying to resist other peoples’ efforts to step on me. I could go on a long, preachy tangent about what I believe is essential to personal success, but that’s a different post. We’re talkin’ HAIR here. Long story short, I went for four months and learned enough to be able to do it for fun for the rest of my life.

I’ve cut hair for friends, co-workers and family. Dozens of people have trusted me with their tresses. Every single time a person sits down for me, I get all nervous and excited and can’t WAIT to see their reaction to the outcome. It’s not the act of cutting the hair that makes me so happy (though I do enjoy the creative aspect of tailoring a haircut to the individual); it’s the person’s satisfaction with what I’ve done for them.

It’s one of those sacred things: A reward more valuable than money.

Those are so rare these days.

Update November 26th, 2008 at 10:10am PST: In case you haven’t heard, iwantsandy.com is going offline on December 8th, 2008. You can read more about why from Sandy’s creator here. There are hopes that Twitter will make good use of Sandy’s intellectual property, but that remains to be seen. In the meantime, please enjoy the following as not only a tribute to what Sandy was, but a call for someone to create a service that will fill the void iwantsandy.com will leave.

She’s a hub for your life. But she’s not a person, she’s a web application. So, she’s an “it”– a program. A great idea for people whose lives are so busy they need a little extra help keeping themselves on track. It’s Sandy. Here’s how it works:

Get an account. Open up the channels of communication (email, SMS, Twitter, Jott). Use those channels to tell Sandy to remember things for you, remind you of things, and keep a calendar of your to-dos. Sandy will then bounce that information back at you via your chosen channel(s); when you want and as often as you want. Basically, that’s what Sandy does. She/it is the virtual string tied around your finger.

Here is a generic example:

Me: Sandy, remind me to go to yoga at 2pm.
Sandy: Okay, I’ll remind you to go to yoga at 2pm.

Sandy (slightly before 2pm): Go to yoga at 2pm.
Me: *runs out the door to yoga*

Pretty nice!

You: But what if I don’t want to go to yoga, or yoga got canceled?
Me: In that case you can either tell Sandy to forget it or to snooze the reminder.

You: And what if I don’t want to constantly ask Sandy to remind me?
Me: The first time you ask, tell Sandy how often yoga happens and she’ll remember.

You get the point.

Generic user (maybe you): So, how do I talk to Sandy?

Sandy is very flexible in how she/it receives information. The designers of this service did a great job taking into account that their target user base–very busy people–may not have time to read a gigantic manual of Sandy commands. Sandy assures the user that she/it can interpret “a simple shorthand that feels natural to read and write”. Basically, that means Sandy can take it any way you want to give it.

Example:

“Remind” = “Remember” = “R”

What Sandy does with the command is based upon the qualifiers. “Remind at 3pm” means you’ll get a reminder just before 3pm. Same for “Remember at 3pm” or “R at 3pm”. However, if you just send “Remember that Nyco’s husband’s name is Jed” Sandy will hold that piece of information until you retrieve it on your own. In that capacity, she/it is like an extension of your long-term memory.

It is even possible to tell Sandy not to remind you of something, even if you say “Remind” in your message. That’s power user stuff, and I’m only including that tidbit to illustrate just how smart Sandy is.

Super cool, right?

Now that I’ve got you all excited, let me tell you my opinion on Sandy:

She’s a great idea for someone who is starting fresh; who isn’t fully reliant on a calendar already, who does the majority of their communicating on a single piece of technology (a smart phone, for example), and who doesn’t have a lot of ongoing projects to inform Sandy about upon registration.

Who is that someone? Not a geek.

I say that for three reasons:

1. Sandy sends communication on top of communication many of us already receive. For geeks, that’s one more email, text, or tweet among a roiling sea.
2. Sandy keeps a calendar for you, but cannot automatically integrate with the calendars you’ve already established. You can work around that, but you’re really busy, remember? (Fellow geek, Ted, pointed out to me that Sandy can talk to iCal via feed, but Sandy still cannot receive information directly from iCal. Thus, he is still integrated in the circle of communication between local and remote calendars.)
   
3. Sandy requires you to be fully reliant upon her/it in order to be effective. For geeks, that means prying yourself away from already established systems. If what you’ve got is already working for you, then there is no reason to switch. (Ted, who is experimenting with Sandy as his calendar manager, sent Sandy one email with 15 appointments listed in it in order to make his switch more efficient.)
   

Now, geeks can get creative and use Sandy in a limited capacity if they do not want to fully commit. Maybe Sandy can’t organize everything in a geek’s life, but she/it can handle single aspects or single projects. For instance, I might like to use Sandy to remind me to pay the bills that don’t auto-draft from my checking account. On my days off of work and away from my computer, Sandy can send a text message to my mobile phone reminding me to make sure that I take care of those “off-line” things. That’s just one example.

Ultimately, I think Sandy would be great for a busy mom or dad. Scratch that–Sandy would be a life saver for a busy mom or dad. Sandy would be helpful for a person whose life is coming at them so fast that they have a tough time sorting it all out. Or, for someone who gets so engrossed in something that they forget to feed the parking meter, step away from the computer monitor and stretch, or take daily medication.

She/it isn’t your mom, your secretary, or your best friend. But Sandy is a good minder for anyone, as long as you recognize up front the pros and cons of introducing she/it into your life.

Think Sandy may be just the thing for you? Not sure? Go to iwantsandy.com and find out for yourself.

One of the ways I’ve worked on Get Happy! is to volunteer my time with Hands On Greater Portland. In my opinion, finding rewards that are non-monetary is a big component of finding the Happy! in life. Here is a great example:

I helped paint an elementary school a couple of weeks ago. Two hours of my life, one ruined pair of jeans, and in the end I was fully satisfied with knowing I’d helped make so many kids’ days literally brighter by covering dingy walls with fresh white glossiness. I didn’t need anything else.

Then this came in the mail yesterday:

This simple construction paper card proves that investing in someone else’s Happy! only helps to elevate your own. And right now, I’m overwhelmed with it.

I keep trying to send everyone I know to a therapist. Guess it’s the giving mentality I have at this time of year: “Merry Christmas! Here’s a gift debit card and the name of a great counselor. No, no, I’m not saying you need to go–I’m just saying that you might like it…”

So, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. Not everyone. In fact, that’s just a scenario I keep playing out in my head. But, I just might do it! I’ve got people pegged. It could be you. Don’t be afraid. And don’t avoid me because you’re dreading a potentially awkward moment. Dodging the inevitable takes a lot of extra energy.

I’m kidding. It’s not my place to lasso people with the rope of righteous advocacy. Still, it’s fun to think that I might be able to help someone. See, what I’m getting at is this: Though the myth that the holidays drive people over the proverbial edge has long been debunked, I’m taking the opportunity to shout out a New Year’s Resolution for all:

Get Happy!

Find yourself often complaining on Twitter, your blog, in emails or while talking on the telephone? Notice that your friends are teasing you for being a nay-sayer or kill-joy? Talking yourself out of going places because you’re pretty sure you’ll have a bad time? Finding it difficult to get motivated to do daily tasks or commit to things? Feeling aimless, dispassionate, or excessively tired?

You’re not alone. And you don’t have to feel crappy forever, you know.

Resolve to Get Happy. For yourself and for your loved ones. But mostly for yourself. Go see that therapist or just tell someone that you need their support. We’re all here on this planet together to help one another find positive outcomes in life, so give someone the gift of confidence and they’ll reciprocate with the gift of support.

Make it a truly Happy New Year. Don’t be scared. Just reach out. Make that Resolution.

Jump…

Reach for…

Happy…

The Think Geek catalog came in the mail the other day.

It only comes once a year.

You know what that means …!!!

That I’m going to review it, of course. Note: I do not want these things. This is not a Christmas list. Have you seen my apartment? It’s the size of your rich aunt’s master closet. Don’t give me toys, because I need room for useful things like a PlayStation 3 and cute shoes. But! Take what I have to say for what it’s worth and consider stuffing some lucky person’s stocking with these lay-up (as in “swishhhhhhh!”) gifts.

Nyco’s Think Geek Catalog Super Duper Awesome List:

Laser-guided Scissors – Finally.

Handpresso – I don’t know how well this works, but it looks cool!

Collapsible Chopsticks – So you don’t have to ask for ‘em anymore…

Ultra-thin Digital Voice Recorder – Genius on the go.

Pocket Microscope – For the exceptionally curious, or the exceptionally blind.

Animated Driving LED Emoticons – Advancing beyond the middle finger.

Tetris Puzzle Game Magnets – Yes!!!

Not a Paper Cup – Dude, so kitschy.

R2 Fish Training School Kit – For that person who thinks their fish is smart.

Deluxe Jedi Robe – Everyone knows someone who will love this.

R/C Animated Solar System Mobile – Because you wanted one when you were a kid.

Magnogrip – It’s like a tool belt for your wrist.

LED Umbrella – Meet people! Especially Blade Runner fans.

Okay, that’s it.

As other holiday special editions roll in, I’ll be sure to share the best bits. No, I’m not getting paid for this. If someone wanted to pay me for it I wouldn’t protest, though.

Happy holidays to all.

The best idea for a party favor:

Christina and Jed, at her rockin’ party. See more.

A birthday raffle. Ten custom, hand-made t-shirts.

There’s a little bit of Christina in on all of us.

Well, a lucky few of us.

Happy 31, Christina!

Ignite Portland 4. Ignite. #IP4… Whatever you call it, you cannot deny the massive impact it has on you. We attended, we laughed, we cheered, we admired the shiny new graphics (that my husband’s company, Outlier Solutions Inc produced), and we had some great conversations. I cannot say enough about how privileged I feel to know so many fantastic people.

The talks this year were very well chosen, and I especially enjoyed the one about what Portland can learn from Kentucky. Having spent 15 years in South Carolina, I had a special appreciation for what the presenter, Jeff Hardison, had to say. Especially the part about mustaches. Oh, and his uncle with the big gun.

I guess that after reading what Matthew Korfhage of Willamette Week wrote about Ignite Portland 4, I’ve got nothing new to add anecdotally. Well, I must point out that the comment on his article about the event being a “horror show” totally comes out of left field…

Or does it?

Here’s the thing: In Portland we tread a fine line between recognizing how great we’ve got it and alienating people who find that kind of confidence to be off-putting. Even disturbing. My friends, I realized something after Ignite Portland 4: We will fail in our endeavors to keep Portland on the map if we don’t stay humble. We really only get major publicity for 1) our businesses suffering or succeeding, 2) the swelling of our population, or 3) large events like Ignite Portland, Waterfront Blues Festival, etc. Thus, using Ignite Portland as a forum to pat ourselves on the back can be distasteful for a lot of non-tech folks and out-of-towners. Influential non-tech folks and out-of-towners. With ink pens and commanding voices. You get me?

My hope for Ignite Portland 5 is that there will be less “Why Portland is Awesome” and more “How We can Help Others Find Their Own Sense of Awesome”.

Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love being a part of this movement, this community, these events. The reason why I bring up this touchy topic is because I care for those whose dreams are steeped in the Portland Promise, and I believe wholeheartedly that what we’ve got going here is groundbreaking. At Ignite Portland 1,2,3,4 we confirmed that fact. Now, for Ignite Portland 5, let’s talk about ways to help other communities find the confidence, attract the talent, and increase their own creative momentum.

Next year, I don’t want the room to collectively puzzle at hearing that Ignite Corvallis is a reality. How about Ignite Hillsboro? Ignite Bend? Ignite Vancouver?

We can help them make it happen, people!

Update November 16th, 2008 at 9:26am PST: I have had some great conversation as a result of writing this post, and I just want to clarify that I’m not calling Portlanders self-absorbed and saying that we need to be more humble. I’m saying that we need to stay humble; I’m saying that Ignite Portland is a powerful forum that a lot of people are starting to pay attention to; I’m saying that they will look away very quickly if they find it too heavily flavored with “Why Portland is Awesome” talk, because people already know that Portland is a great place to be. We have an opportunity to get a message heard, so choose that message wisely!