A Busy Bee is a Happy Me!

Hello blog world!  Please forgive my long period of absence!

Recently, I have learned that I am much happier when I stay busy.  I get to antsy just sitting around knowing there's so much to do and see in the world... I have to be feeding my brain knowledge, filling my soul with life, and just plain "doing" in order to get that sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.  

Thus, I have taken to filling my day with activities (not all work!) and learned to live on less sleep. In fact, somehow, I wake up easier and more upbeat in the morning with less sleep than I used to need. Not sure if it’s the sunshine, my new-found motivation, or what... in any case, I’m really enjoying it!

But… with the busy schedule, my blog took a backseat. So I wanted to take a minute to update y'all on what I have been up to!

1. "Temping." I work full-time at a local (but not small) greeting card company. Specifically, the unit that fills USPS Post Offices with greeting cards and ReadyPost shipping supplies (like cute colorful packages, boxes, and packing tape). I’m enjoying learning about the retail business and the logistics in inventory control for 15,000 offices.  I’m responsible for completing a handful of monthly and weekly reports for my bosses. I do special projects, such as analyzing how certain office demographics and promotions correlate to sales.  Plus, our cards cost me just 50 cents!   ...But while I enjoy this job, I’m looking for that extra challenge, variety, and excitement of public accounting (Yes. I said excitement… I swear it is!). That’s where the next step comes in.

2. Coffee shops. Studying for the CPA Exam. This stands Certified Public Accountant. It’s a four part exam. Fully computerized. 60% multiple choice. 40% fill-in-the-blank journal entry, concept, and research. Each test 3-4 hours long. It ain’t no joke (No. English isn’t tested). Most people study 8-5 like a full time job, but I don’t have that luxury (or curse, I’m not sure which). Gotta make dat money!  **Note about coffee shops, next time you're in one, order a "Chaicoffski". This is a local fad so you'll have to give the barrista the recipe: 50% chai +50% coffee = 100% yumz!

3. "Freelancing." = Random stuff I do to make extra money.  Before I got my greeting card job. I took up a part-time project of bookkeeping for a Homeowner’s Association. So now I put in a couple hours a week to keep that going. This has really tested my knowledge of “real-life” accounting, so I'm glad about that... I am also known for my frequent role as a stay-in pet and house sitter, which I do about once a month for a couple different families.  I watch children too.

4. Extra-curriculars. Jogging, cycling, socializing, and most notably, African dance. It’s difficult to put into words how amazing African Dance is, but I’m going to try anyway...  The setting: A “Master Drummer” from the Ivory Coast plays at the front of the class with his ensemble of 4-6 men. (Women can play too!! But for class, we dance! Oh and men can dance too!  Yay equal opportunity!).  Our master drummer has been performing around the world since his teens, so we are honored to be in his presence, listening to the music and lyric that comes out of his drum… His wife, an American (who btw, can move like an African native), teaches the class tribal dances from different parts of Africa.  Like Congolese [lots of hip shaking!], Zaouli [fast footwork to mimic the drums], and Aluku [a tribute to the most beautiful dancer in the tribe, one of my faves], to name a few.

Before class ends, you have a chance for a solo and dance one-on-one with the drummers, who play to your movements.  It's not about pleasing the circle of folks around you but about expressing yourself.   And at the very end, we thank the drums for their music, then the drummers, and then each other... Something about the atmosphere and experiencing a different culture is very fulfilling.  Even though there are certain moves and steps, you can kind of interpret it to how you feel and just let go, which is great after a stressful day!  So (I realized I've been very hippie through all of this), but basically, I highly recommend researching to find an African drum & dance group in your area.  It's great fun, a great workout, and a unique experience that I think everyone should have!


So glad I fit blogging into my schedule tonight!  Now everyone's updated!  I think I'll have to add it to my list as #5!  ....Enjoy your week everyone! 

-- peace & love --