"The Last Lecture", Invest 73 Minutes In Your Day...

Have you invested 73 minutes in your day to watch and appreciate "the Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch? Our friend David recently recommended it to Tami , Tim and I and we had a terrific conversation about it this afternoon. We each discovered something unique and highly relatable from the experience. There are over 2.3M people who have watched "The Last Lecture" so far (on this Utube link anyway). Below is David's direction to us...

Overview: On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

Action: 1) Watch/listen to Randy's lecture online (about 73 min) 2) Be inspired.

Cool "Chips" in the Back? "Dips" Up Front?

Are you a frontseater or a backseater? I was in a presentation most of the today and wondered why the "cool" seats are always at the back of the class, no matter our age. Is it because we feel greater independence? Or perhaps, we consider ourselves out of sight/out of mind from the presenter or teacher? No pressure to engage. It's the coast post. Do we, backseaters (yes, I'm one) think that the person speaking upfront has never been a backseater themselves? They have no concept of the secret society that exists in the joke telling, upcoming weekend planning and past weekend storytelling (unless in Vegas) from the back row.

I wonder what subtle mayhem would ensue if frontseaters and backseaters swapped spots. Maybe it would play out something like this. The now frontseaters, behind their fortressed laptop lids will instead doodle their jokes, silently txt message their weekend plans, and instant message their friends - continuing to assert their independence and secret backseater society. The now backseaters, with turtled-giraffe like necks, will hang on every word and follow the instructors movements like a junior high tennis match to reinforce their frontseater society and visible thirst for knowledge. I tried out the frontseater post position today. I left my laptop, but had pen & pad for "blogging" and had my cell phone for txting weekend plans :)

How Do You "Tell" in the Chip Aisle?

What's your "tell"? I was talking with my friend David about this topic briefly today. The idea that we all have some little habit we do, when stressed, while simultaneously maintaining our cool calm collected selves in the midst of an uncalm uncollected world. My tell? Okay, I'll tell. I bite my bottom lip. When I'm bugged, I do it every time. Not a blood draw bite, more of an upper tooth "grab" combo bottom lip trap - if you know what I mean. Another friend of mine, begins to pull one strand of her hair on the left side of her head, continuously. She has done it for years. The fact that I know this, is telling to the frequency I have bugged her over the years. :) I don't think she is aware of her "tell". Some people and I do feel for them, have the red splotchy neck start - that spreads to a red splotchy head all over. Nervous or irritated, the red splotchy "tell" shows no favoritism. Okay, time to share a "chip." What's your "tell"?

The Long-Talker Hang-Up Dismount...

Long-talker hang-up challenged? That dismount has plagued me for years into now largely avoidance cell phone texting by default. Even short talkers receive no favoritism within the wide net i've cast. Friends who have an awareness of my handicap, now leave me voicemails like "Are you not picking up because you don't know how to hang-up on me?" That was Tami by the way (Short talker) :)...a few months back at a party a friend, Mike, tried to provide me with some great coaching. He said practice these for the quick phone call exits 1) I've got to catch this other call 2) I've got to run and 3) I've got to jump into a meeting. Did I start hanging up on people more after the coaching? I sent him an e-mail to thank him. So, no. Beyond this, I've experienced and do recognize the "closing signs" - the sleepy talking combo yawn with a full-twisting lip smack is a standard escape hatch. At least for others. I've tried that one by the way in a pinch...think I even fell asleep on the phone with a long talker once, no kidding, and they just kept talking, I think...don't know, cell battery ran out by the time I woke up. They may still be talking...can you relate? Tell us about it...

Dismounts Throughout Life...

This whole concept of dismounts or transitions is a thread throughout my life...I'm not that patient, so I tend to jump from one thing or topic to another rather than gracefully and smoothly glide. I am interrupt driven by nature and feel compelled to squeeze as much in a day as I can so I am not patient with the whole dismount thing...I am the person who will only blow dry her hair half way, do a 5 second check on appearance before speeding out the door already 5 minutes late...yes I do have a few speeding tickets racked up. So back to dismounts throughout life...I have an almost 13 year old son who "seems" to be jumping into adulthood. Friday night I realized from the outside I couldn't tell if he was 13 or 18 except for a few telltale signs...an "early bloomer" he is an athletic 5ft 9in and his voice has changed... Well he went downtown for dinner with a friend followed by the movie What Stays in Vegas and stayed up until 3 listening to music and talking with his friend... OK now for the clues about his real age: 1. He called me from the restaurant and needed money 2. I gave him rides to and from 3. When he came downstairs the next morning he handed me a baby tooth that had just fallen out.... So far his dismount from childhood to teenager has been relatively smooth but I know that can change in an instant.

Better Chips in Aisle 18?

So close to the dismount. Our friend Ann sent this insight to us on experience as a parent and "Almost 18"...can you relate?

My 17 year old daughter always seems to amaze me. Sometimes for the good, sometimes I just shake my head and wonder "where the heck did she get that one?" The big challenge in our house is this ever craving for independence, a.k.a. "Why can't I just do my own thing, now, I am "Almost 18". Well, quite frankly, "Almost 18" sucks for all of us. It looks like this:

Almost 18 means you still have a curfew even though you would like to stay out until all hours "hanging out".
Almost 18 means you still live in my house. Still living in my house presents some unique challenges.
Almost 18 means you have worn me out for the last 4 years of your life, and I am tired.
Almost 18 means you are still a minor, and the laws of being a minor still apply. I did not write them, you can not appeal to my court.
Almost 18 means I have a little more time before I have to set you free and let you carry on your own dreams with the hope I did ok despite the list of mistakes I likely made.
Almost 18 blows me away. You were just a little girl yesterday, laughing, wearing your swim suit all the time, and hugging and showering me constantly with kisses.
Almost 18 has made me very proud.

Dental Floss? In the Chip Aisle?

Dental Floss is an ever present and reliable staple at my house. Anyone experience this? ...it occurred to me the other day, I NEVER run out of dental floss AND I can always find it. Socks (two pair), tweezers, cell phone, mascara, butter, CAR KEYS - most in daily use, always a crap shoot. I go to the dentist every 6 months - usually released cavity free. I round up the usual suspects from each visit - toothbrush, bubblegum or mint floss. Mint for me, please. I recognize the benefit of flossing religiously v.s. the deleterious habit i've mastered. The dismount from brushing to done, check. The dismount from brushing to flossing, illusive. Even with the horrifying revelation from the dental assistant at my last appointment. I'm in "the chair", waiting for THE question, I know it's coming, cringing.....you know the one, wait for it...."And how much do you floss per week, Janet?" ARGH...I confess like an inmate to a jailer. "Maybe...once?" Traditionally, I'll get "the look" and expeditiously push for the worry-free cleaning. But this time, she says...."that's okay, you know you really only need to floss the teeth you want to keep".....What the? My unflossed jaw dropped. With that bolt of lightening, I was determined to turn over a new leaf. It was like a New Year's Eve Resolution. Just like. I "worked out" the floss for two weeks, then dumped it like a jump rope at a gym. That was four months ago. Sporatic flossing at best since. Though tonight (and likely not again until my next dental appt), I will head to the "chip aisle", quickly locate the small white plastic fully-loaded square, pull the string, and floss...